Voronezh Epstein connection, tractor sinkhole, frost school closures

On February 2, Voronezh saw links to the Epstein files and a tractor sinkhole. Brutal frost also forced schools to switch to remote learning.

Apr 20, 2026

The posthumous scandals involving financier Jeffrey Epstein now have connections to the Russian city of Voronezh.
Source:
John Minchillo/Copyright 2020 The Associated Press

One of the world«s top stories is the case of American financier Jeffrey Epstein, accused of sex trafficking girls and involving them in prostitution. Investigators say some victims were minors. The U.S. Department of Justice declassified millions of documents, known as the »Epstein files«, sparking a global political scandal with names like Bill Clinton and Donald Trump emerging, and Russian connections being found. Voronezh is involved; Voronezh1.ru found mentions of the Black Earth Region capital in documents related to a Voronezh native convicted in New York for recruiting Russian girls, including from his hometown, into prostitution and extortion. The conspiracy-laden story is here.

A key article today covers Voronezh teacher Natalya Tushinskaya, brutally murdered five years ago on February 2, 2021, by a drug addict seeking money for drugs. The crime, involving 20 stab wounds, horrified the city. Details of the investigation and trial are in our report.

Voronezh continues to grapple with snowfall and extreme cold. Hundreds of regional schools moved to remote learning, and some universities followed suit. Meteorologists say two days brought nearly a month«s worth of snow, making January 2026 one of the snowiest on record.

The city«s fragile utility networks couldn»t cope: weekend accidents affected water supply and heating systems, and on Monday, hundreds of homes lost water again. While utility company RVK repaired a burst pipe, its tractor sank into the ground. RVK blamed a separate heating network issue, but RIR Energo also denied responsibility. Prosecutors may investigate. See photos on Voronezh1.ru.

Residents of the notorious «Far Gardens» have been without power for three days amid bitter cold. People, essentially abandoned by local authorities, are desperate and ready to appeal to the president. We«ve provided a guide on reporting utility failures and seeking compensation, but »Far Gardens« is a special case our journalists are investigating separately.

Note that a central Voronezh street will be closed tonight for snow removal. Details here.

We also reported on Voronezh Region«s ranking in gasoline affordability and a shocking kidnapping case where six perpetrators extorted money from children, detailed here.