Arson at Kanteemirovskaya Aid Collection Point: Details
Details of the Incident
Information about the fire came in around 19:00 on February 4. The fire occurred near Lesnaya metro station at 31 Kanteemirovskaya Street.
The attacker threw two Molotov cocktails into the room and threatened to blow up a suspicious box. Inside the box was a live pigeon. Shortly before, an unknown person approached the collection point and tried to put something under the door, but was scared off by a foundation employee.
The fire covered 30 square meters. According to EMERCOM, there were no casualties.
The Suspect Arrested
The suspect is 24-year-old Yelizaveta, a native of Vologda. She was detained at the scene by police and Rosgvardia (Russian National Guard). A criminal case has been opened under Article 205 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation («Terrorist act»).
According to investigators, the girl was talking on the phone and likely receiving instructions from third parties. She claims that she was contacted via an anonymous Telegram channel, where the person introduced themselves as a secret department of the Russian Defense Ministry and promised help with debts in exchange for participating in a «secret operation».
The pigeon, according to the suspect, she used as a symbol of peace to prove she had no intention of causing harm. The police are deciding whether to recognize the bird as material evidence and determine its fate.
Situation at the Scene
- Kanteemirovskaya Street was paralyzed until 20:00, public transportation was halted.
- Firefighters discovered new fires. Extinguishing was complicated by spilled gasoline and a large amount of flammable materials such as clothing.
- Residents of the building were temporarily evacuated but later returned to their apartments. Utilities were not shut off.
Dmitry Tereshenkov, head of the regional branch of the Union of Donbass Volunteers, said that the point collected aid for hospitals and orphanages, and called the incident an act of inhumanity.
About the Dobrovolets Foundation
The foundation belongs to the military-patriotic Cossack community «North Slavic Community» (Severo-Slavyanskaya Obshchina) and has been operating since 2022. The headquarters at 31 Kanteemirovskaya collected humanitarian aid for fighters of the special military operation (SVO) and residents of new regions.
The most famous activist is Vladimir Bakin (call sign Ulfer), who fought in the SVO. He stated that the foundation was «burned by Ukrainian terrorists».
According to volunteers, there were no serious conflicts with neighbors, apart from temporary inconveniences due to loading operations. Volunteer Olga, a native of Donetsk, noted that there was only a conflict with an elderly neighbor upstairs who complained about exhaust fumes from cars. When she found out about the foundation«s activities, she began helping the Dobrovolets Foundation herself.
On the Cossacks« social media, it is reported that the creation of the foundation allowed the community to participate in the city program for renting premises for socially oriented NGOs. In the spring of 2023, Dobrovolets officially received the building as its headquarters. «The premises were in poor condition, but thanks to the help of kind, caring people, we are gradually putting it in order for full-fledged work,» the Cossacks said.
Fire Damage
As a result of the fire, all humanitarian aid, medical supplies, and uniforms burned over an area of about 120 square meters, said deputy director of the Dobrovolets Foundation, Vladimir Bakin.
He noted that at the time of the attack, employees and volunteers were in the building and managed to leave and detain the suspect before law enforcement arrived. According to him, she was recording the event on her phone and talking to someone.
