A Fire at a Historic Yeltsin Museum Site in Yekaterinburg: What Happened and Who Was Affected
In the early hours of March 22, a blaze broke out at the building housing the first Boris Yeltsin museum in Yekaterinburg. The facility is located at 16 Comintern Street, a site that carries significant cultural and historical weight for the region. Rescue teams acted quickly after receiving the emergency alert, and the fire department reported that the incident began just after 1:13 in the morning, Moscow time. Firefighting efforts continued through the night, with the fire finally brought under control by 2:21. The affected area was measured at about 50 square meters, and damage extended to several vehicles that were on or near the site, including a Kia Rio, a Skoda Octavia, and a Porsche Cayenne. The facade and roof of the eight-story administrative building also sustained considerable damage. The response involved nine pieces of equipment and 29 personnel who worked to contain and extinguish the fire. The emergency services described the incident as under investigation and noted that there were no casualties. Operational and investigative measures were set to continue in the aftermath of the blaze.
Preliminary findings pointed to arson as the likely cause of the fire, and authorities indicated that the investigation would advance with all necessary checks and surveillance. The regional emergency ministry emphasized that no victims were reported and that follow-up inquiries would determine a precise sequence of events and any potential security implications for the site.
The damaged building housed a network of organizations, with as many as 85 groups reported to be connected to the premises. Among these, some affiliations are linked to the Yeltsin Foundation, a key cultural and civic organization in the region. Local media have noted that the Ural Monument project, which had recently been relocated to this building, is among the affected entities. That project had previously drawn attention for its status in the broader civic landscape.
Earlier reports had mentioned a separate incident involving a Russian Song Theatre building on Olympic Boulevard, but officials clarified that the blaze occurred at the Yekaterinburg site and not at the theatre. The evolving narrative around the fire has prompted continued monitoring by regional authorities and media outlets, with authorities promising updates as investigations proceed. [citation: DEA News — press service of the regional directorate of the Ministry of Emergencies].