In Yekaterinburg, authorities reported that a man who had previously served five years in prison for setting 41 cars on fire again started two more fires and was subsequently arrested. This update comes via e1.ru, referencing information from the regional department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
Two vehicles, a Volkswagen Touareg and a Passat, caught fire on East Street on May 18. A bystander who witnessed the incident was able to describe the arsonist’s behavior to the police units arriving at the scene. Moments later, traffic police inspectors detained the suspect and took him into custody, ending his immediate escape from law enforcement.
The individual was identified as a resident of Patrushi village. It emerged that he had a prior conviction for arson, having set fire to 41 cars in Yekaterinburg and Aramil. He received a five-year prison sentence in 2017 and was released in October 2022. The recurrence of such offenses prompted the reopening of the case as a new investigation into deliberate damage to property was opened after the two additional arsons. The suspect acknowledged the charges and explained that, after his release from incarceration, he had found work as an auto mechanic. He described the two recent fires as arising from a spontaneous urge while under the influence of alcohol, framing the acts as impulsive rather than premeditated.
In related regional news, it was reported that a separate incident in Bashkiria involved a drunken husband who allegedly drove his wife’s car, leading to a fatal crash. Law enforcement is pursuing further details to determine all contributing factors and to support any ongoing inquiries related to that incident. These events underscore ongoing concerns about impaired driving and property destruction and how authorities respond to repeat offenses, including monitoring and potential reforms to early intervention strategies.
Officials noted that investigations continue and that the public will be kept informed as more information becomes available. The focus remains on establishing a clear timeline of events, confirming the involvement of the suspect in all connected cases, and examining whether any environmental or social factors may have influenced the behavior observed in these incidents. The case highlights the importance of careful documentation by witnesses, rapid response by patrol units, and the role of judicial proceedings in addressing repeated criminal activity involving arson and property damage. Attribution: local law enforcement press releases and regional news coverage provide the core facts surrounding these developments.