Volgograd Engineer Sentenced Over Deadly Sewage Plant Blast

A court in Volgograd's Krasnoarmeysky district has sentenced the chief engineer of a water supply company after an explosion at a pumping station killed six people in July 2024.

Apr 17, 2026

The court delivered its verdict at 10:00 on February 2 in the case of the fatal sewage plant explosion.
Source:
Aleksey Volkhonsky / V1.RU

In Volgograd, a verdict was passed on Dmitry Lebedev, the chief engineer of Concessions of Water Supply LLC, following a horrific explosion at sewage pumping station No. 4 (KNS-4) that killed six people. Previously, the prosecution had requested 8.5 years in a settlement colony for the defendant, but the defense claimed the explosion was not his fault. The final decision was made by the Krasnoarmeysky District Court.

Recall that on the night of July 5, 2024, at KNS No. 4 in the Krasnoarmeysky district, an electric motor burned out. Additionally, on that day, emergency services recorded carbon dioxide levels 58 times above normal and hydrogen sulfide 8 times above normal at the facility. An additional fan installed in the building helped reduce the concentration of dangerous gas. But on that day, foreman Mikhail Kurakin died at the station.

The next day, the chief engineer of Concessions of Water Supply LLC, Dmitry Lebedev, ordered the installation of an additional exhaust system at the sewage pumping station. The delivery and installation of the system were carried out by the shift supervisor, an electric gas welder, and three repair fitters, as per his instructions. During the work on the afternoon of July 6, an explosion rocked the station, destroying the KNS-4 building. Five people died as a result of the explosion.

At the previous hearing, the parties presented their arguments. The prosecution stated that Dmitry Lebedev«s guilt was fully proven and asked for a real prison term. However, the defense argued that the explosion occurred due to a high concentration of oil in the wastewater, exceeding the maximum allowable concentration, as well as violations of job instructions by the station workers themselves on the day of the explosion.

Today at 10:00, the Krasnoarmeysky District Court passed the verdict. According to a V1.RU correspondent from the courtroom, Dmitry Lebedev was sentenced to 3.5 years of forced labor. The prosecutor did not appear for the announcement of the verdict.