Video footage released by the regional administration of the Russian Guard shows the detention of a young man accused of setting fire to a diesel locomotive in St. Petersburg. The clip, distributed by the security agency, captures the tense moment when law enforcement officers close in on the suspect and bring him into custody. It provides a clear, up close view of the operation, including the rapid approach of the officers, the securing of the scene, and the moment the individual is restrained and handcuffed. The video also hints at the anxieties of onlookers who stood at a safe distance, watching as a potentially dangerous situation unfolded and was brought under control by trained personnel.
Officials say that the Baltika riot police unit of the Main Directorate of the Russian Guard played a crucial role in supporting the arrest. In the frame-by-frame documentation from the scene, officers can be seen coordinating entry, breaching a door, and maintaining order as the suspect is detained. The images reflect a coordinated effort by multiple law enforcement units to stabilize a volatile environment and to prevent any escalation that could threaten bystanders or nearby infrastructure. The joint task force aimed to secure the location quickly and minimize risk while ensuring due process was followed in the moment of apprehension.
The suspect is a 22-year-old man from St. Petersburg who is believed to be involved in the arson of the locomotive cabin at dead end 18 near Ruchi station in the Kalininsky district. Investigators say he threw a Molotov cocktail toward the cockpit, a detail that has prompted prosecutors to open a criminal case under Part 1 of Article 205 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation, classifying the act as a terrorist act. The charges reflect the seriousness of using an incendiary device to damage critical transportation equipment and threaten public safety. The case has been assigned to the appropriate investigative bodies, which will review surveillance records, gather witness statements, and assess forensic findings to determine the full scope of the incident and any possible accomplices or prior related actions.
Krasnogvardeisky District Court carried out a decision to place the defendant in detention as a preventive measure. He will be kept in custody until March 17 as investigators continue to build their case and verify each element of the charges. Detention in such cases is routinely employed to ensure the defendant’s presence at hearings, to preserve evidence, and to prevent any risk of flight or interference with witnesses. The court emphasized the need for a careful, methodical examination of all materials, including eyewitness testimonies and security footage, to support the prosecution’s claims and to safeguard the rights of all parties involved.
The report also notes that the same individual is associated with another alleged act in St. Petersburg, an arson incident at a post office involving a Molotov cocktail. Authorities indicate that this allegation is being reviewed as part of the broader inquiry into the person’s activities in the city. While investigators assess the connection between the two events, the focus remains on the current case and the actions that led to the detainment, the evidence gathered, and the legal process that will determine the defendant’s fate in the court system.