Russia shaken by an unprecedented wave of arson attempts. Banks, shopping centers, official buildings targeted. An operation orchestrated online? The authorities suspect a Ukrainian trail, kyiv denies. The details of a case that shakes the country…
Russia is going through a dark period, shaken by a wave of malicious acts on an unprecedented scale. Since last Friday, no fewer than twenty arson attempts have been recorded across the country, targeting targets as diverse as banking establishments, shopping malls, postal buildings and even government administrative premises. An alarmingly serious phenomenon that raises many questions.
An unprecedented wave of arson attacks
It was mainly in the large metropolises of Saint Petersburg and Moscow, as well as their surrounding suburbs, that these acts were perpetrated. According to information reported by the national news agency TASS and the independent media Fontanka, individuals attempted to set off low-power explosive devices or project fireworks onto the facades of various buildings.
The images captured by surveillance cameras in certain targeted locations, and massively relayed on social networks, show disturbing scenes. In particular, we can see people filming with their smartphones the beginnings of the fire that they are trying to cause. The material damage is considerable in certain places: ATMs have been completely blown up, windows broken, and even police vehicles set on fire.
A disturbing modus operandi
But who is behind this wave of coordinated attacks? According to a source close to the investigation cited by TASS, the perpetrators of these acts were recruited by scammers acting online, promising them money in exchange for these sabotage missions. A process which is reminiscent of attempts at destabilization carried out by criminal networks.
Sberbank, the country's largest bank and target of several attacks, told the Ria Novosti agency that it had noted a 30% increase in arson attempts targeting its branches over the last 7 days. According to a spokesperson for the establishment, the people arrested following these attacks were mainly elderly people, suggesting that they could have been manipulated.
The Ukrainian track mentioned, kyiv denies
Faced with the increase in these malicious acts, the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) quickly reacted by warning the population. According to him, Ukrainian fraudsters posing as security agents contacted Russian citizens, mainly elderly people, to encourage them to commit these crimes in exchange for money or unblocking of their bank accounts.
A serious accusation, to which the Ukrainian authorities have so far not officially reacted. When asked, kyiv refused to comment on these allegations of interference and rejects any involvement in the wave of incendiary attacks currently shaking Russia.
A context of heightened tensions
It is impossible not to make the link with the current explosive geopolitical context. Since the launch of the Russian military offensive in Ukraine in February 2022, relations between the two countries have never been so tense. Russian army recruitment offices had already been the target of several Molotov cocktail attacks, notably after the announcement last September of a very unpopular partial mobilization campaign decreed by Vladimir Putin.
More than 300,000 reservists were then called up to fight in Ukraine, sparking a wave of discontent among the population. Several people suspected of burning down recruitment centers received heavy prison sentences following speedy trials. Russian justice intends to send a message of firmness to arsonists.
While the investigation continues to try to identify the sponsors of this incendiary wave, Russian society is holding its breath. Fear and psychosis gradually take hold of minds, fueling the wildest rumors. In this harmful climate, where mistrust reigns, it is more necessary than ever to exercise discernment and keep a cool head. One thing is certain: the country is going through a test of truth, and it will take time to heal the wounds and regain national harmony. Now is the time to ease tensions, not to exacerbate them.
