Manipulators Turn People into Arsonists: Recruitment Schemes
On 4 February, at a humanitarian aid collection point on Kantemirovskaya Street in St. Petersburg, an arson occurred. 24-year-old Elizaveta from Vologda, according to reports, was recruited through an anonymous Telegram channel. She was promised help with debts on behalf of a «secret department» of the Russian Ministry of Defense in exchange for completing a task. As a result, she threw Molotov cocktails, causing a fire, and threatened to blow up a box that turned out to contain a live pigeon. A criminal case has been opened on terrorism charges.
This case is not isolated. In St. Petersburg, similar incidents regularly occur where curators from messengers force young people and children into committing crimes.
- 29 January 2026: A 17-year-old girl attempted to set fire to a car near the private security department on Tambasova Street after correspondence with unknown individuals.
- Same day: A 13-year-old teenager set fire to a Mercedes on Begovaya Street, fearing trouble for his parents.
- 19 November 2025: A 15-year-old foreigner set fire to a police BMW near the 77th police department on Obvodny Canal, following instructions via messenger.
- 31 October: A 12-year-old boy tried to sneak into the parking lot of the 26th police department on Irinovsky Prospekt but was detained.
- 5 June 2025: A teenager set fire to a police officer«s car on Zakharyevskaya Street after threats from strangers to send him to an orphanage.
At the end of 2024, in St. Petersburg and the Leningrad Region, more than 15 so-called biodrones (recruited arsonists) were detained, including teenagers and pensioners. Many of them were charged under terrorism-related articles.
Law enforcement and authorities urge citizens to be vigilant. Danger can come not only from messengers but also from dating apps.
In dating apps, scammers often ask to share location, then show a video of a person in Ukrainian Armed Forces uniform, threatening to use the data for attacks. After that, they call pretending to be from Russian special services, demanding access to banking apps or valuables.
Official representative of the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs, Irina Volk, stated: «Do not follow the instructions of strangers, no matter who they claim to be. Remember: law enforcement officers can only call you to invite you to a station for a personal meeting. And they certainly will not intimidate or threaten you.»
The Main Directorate of the Ministry of Internal Affairs for St. Petersburg and Leningrad Region also warned: «The police warn: if you receive calls from unknown numbers urging you to commit reckless acts, we strongly ask: do not give in to provocations and immediately report it to law enforcement agencies.»
First Deputy Chairman of the Committee on Legal Affairs, Igor Lyubchenko, noted that there is no one-size-fits-all solution to prevent such incidents, but more attention should be paid to children and their environment.
By the end of 2025, the Federation Council approved amendments to the Criminal Code, toughening punishment for recruiting children for sabotage up to life imprisonment.
