At 18:55 on September 30, 2024, Russian video blogger and urban explorer Andrei Eduardovich Pyzh—also known as MSh and Andrei Nyashny—walked out of Correctional Colony No. 5 in Metallostroy, St. Petersburg. He was released after serving the bulk of a five-year sentence for allegedly collecting and disseminating information classified as state secrets. Roughly 30 people—fans, friends, and reporters—waited outside the gates and streamed his release live on social platforms.
Early Life and Urbanturizm
Born on October 5, 1984, in Leningrad, Pyzh built a large audience on his YouTube channel Urbanturizm, launched on October 19, 2012. At the time of his arrest, it counted about 800,000 subscribers. His videos documented expeditions to abandoned and semi-restricted locations worldwide, from Pripyat and the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone to derelict bunkers in Germany, shuttered uranium mines, and mothballed industrial sites.
Working across several countries, Pyzh combined high production values with researched, accessible narration on the history, architecture, and engineering of the sites he visited. In 2017 he obtained Ukrainian citizenship and moved to Kyiv while retaining Russian citizenship. His signature style blended exploration with educational context, elevating the channel beyond mere “urban exploring” toward industrial archaeology and historical storytelling.
Detention and Charges
FSB officers detained Pyzh in Moscow on August 5, 2020. The stated trigger was his entry into a restricted facility—Leningrad Nuclear Power Plant-2 in Sosnovy Bor. The following day, investigators charged him under clause “d” of part 2 of Article 283.1 of the Russian Criminal Code (illegal acquisition of information constituting state secrets), and he was transferred to Moscow’s Lefortovo pre-trial detention center.
Investigators alleged that from December 2018 to August 2020 he illegally gathered technical and structural details about several sensitive facilities in the Moscow region. The centerpiece of the case focused on so-called “Metro-2,” an unofficial term for classified underground transport infrastructure believed to be built for mobilization and continuity-of-government purposes under agencies including the Special Objects Service of the Main Directorate of Special Programs of the President of Russia and the Ministry of Defense. These concealed networks reportedly connect to the Moscow Metro and were designed to facilitate evacuation of Soviet leadership in the event of war.
Authorities claimed Pyzh transported collected materials on flash drives to Ukrainian territory. Pyzh maintained he intended to use the information privately for content creation on his channel. His attorney, Alexey Khalzov, underscored that Pyzh never aimed to sell classified data.
Related Reporting and Speculation
Some journalists linked the criminal case to a video Pyzh shot at a military radar site near Olenegorsk, in Russia’s Murmansk region beyond the Arctic Circle. Officially described as operational and well-funded, the facility appeared dilapidated in Pyzh’s footage. The report suggested misappropriation of defense funds, a theme that Russian authorities have increasingly labeled as potentially harmful to national security.
Trial and Sentencing
Pyzh spent 26 days in custody before meeting his lawyer, a delay that human rights advocates noted as an early procedural red flag. He was initially held without detailed charges, according to these observers. On October 29, 2021, the Moscow City Court found him guilty and sentenced him to five years in a general-regime colony. Under Article 283.1, the statutory range runs from three to eight years.
The trial took place behind closed doors, prompting criticism from organizations like Reporters Without Borders (RSF), which condemned the opacity and argued that the proceedings infringed on Pyzh’s right to a fair trial. Pyzh did not admit guilt during the trial.
In October 2023, Pyzh petitioned the Kolpinsky District Court of St. Petersburg to replace the remainder of his sentence with compulsory labor. He expressed remorse, formally accepted guilt, and had served over three quarters of his term without incident. Judge Dmitry Nikulin denied the request, citing doubts about the sincerity of his contrition, stating he had not “atoned” or “apologized to the state.”
Life in the Colony
During his term at IK-5 in Metallostroy, Pyzh worked as a packer in the colony’s sewing shop. In his free time, he exercised, watched television, and drew. He also planned to enroll in vocational training to qualify as a “Computer Operator.” Upon release, he described the corrective system as largely performative, saying it “doesn’t correct anyone.” In a sardonic aside, he quipped that the colony had turned him into an “exemplary” person and that from here “only decline” was possible.
Parole and First Steps
Paroled on September 30, 2024, Pyzh ultimately served around three years of the five-year sentence. Urbanturizm moderators on VKontakte announced his release and began livestreaming as they headed to meet him. At the gates, fans and journalists pressed him on the case, prison conditions, and future plans. He said he intended to restore his social media accounts, travel to Moscow to retrieve his electronics, and go to Minsk to pick up his car. Shortly after greeting supporters, he joked that he planned to swim in the Neva River.
Human Rights Reactions and Context
Rights groups framed the case as part of a broader pattern. The organization Vesna argued that the Russian authorities increasingly deploy “state secrets” and “treason” statutes to sustain a narrative of encirclement by enemies and spies. RSF called Pyzh’s sentence evidence of state paranoia and urged his immediate release. Media tallies indicate espionage and treason cases in Russia have risen steadily; approximately 3,500 such prosecutions have been recorded over the past decade, though exact figures remain classified. High-profile defendants have included journalists Ivan Safronov and Vladislav Esipenko.
The Reach of Urbanturizm
At detention, Urbanturizm had about 800,000 subscribers, 99.4 million views, and 251 videos. Beyond Russia, Pyzh filmed in Ukraine, Germany, and other countries. Notable explorations included Pripyat and the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone, a bunker associated with Hitler’s headquarters train in Germany, abandoned uranium mines, and Moscow’s Likhachev Plant. The channel stood out for meticulous research, sharp visuals, and a methodical approach to explaining historical context and engineering details. This balance of risk, craft, and education attracted viewers interested in urbanism, industrial heritage, and extreme tourism.
What Comes Next
After release, Pyzh signaled a return to content creation and to rebuilding his online presence. Because he was paroled, his activities will be closely monitored by authorities. Even so, Urbanturizm’s audience is eager to see new investigations from a creator who became one of Russia’s most recognizable urban explorers. His return on September 30, 2024 resonated beyond his fan base, underscoring the precarious reality for independent journalists and bloggers operating under growing pressure in Russia.