The Khimki court has remanded Alexander Morozov, head of the Delta-Stroy construction division, into custody on a petition from investigators. Morozov oversaw repairs at the burned-out OBI store inside the Mega-Khimki shopping center. The judge ordered detention for Morozov until February 9, pending further inquiry, a decision confirmed by a court spokesman. According to the updates, Morozov’s defense intends to challenge the ruling through an appeal.
Alongside Morozov, two other individuals were detained in connection with the incident: Denis Sagitov, a welder, and Ilnur Shaikhutdinov, a 42-year-old foreman who supervised welding on the OBI project. Both men were released on bail as investigators continue their work. The fire at the construction hypermarket broke out on December 9 and is believed to have begun during roofing operations, with welding work cited as a probable trigger. Authorities say that paints, varnishes, and other construction materials stored in the store fueled the blaze and contributed to its rapid spread.
Initial assessments place the fire’s total area at about 18,000 square meters, with local containment achieved on roughly 7,000 square meters. Reports indicate that significant portions of the roof collapsed, affecting approximately 5,000 square meters of the structure. The fire prompted insurers to estimate substantial potential losses, with preliminary calculations suggesting the insured damage could reach a record level for such facilities in the country, potentially ranging into the tens of billions of rubles. The event has raised questions about safety protocols, compliance with construction codes, and the oversight of welding and other potentially hazardous activities on site.
Within the larger context, the tragedy stands as a stark reminder of the risks associated with large retail developments and rapid construction schedules. Investigators are reviewing the chain of responsibility from site supervisors to subcontractors, aiming to determine whether adherence to fire safety standards and proper storage of flammable materials were maintained. The investigation also scrutinizes whether any lapses in planning, supervision, or quality control contributed to the scale of the blaze and the subsequent structural failures. The incident has already prompted discussions among regional authorities and industry professionals about strengthening oversight, improving emergency response readiness, and ensuring that all personnel on similar sites are adequately trained in fire prevention and critical incident procedures.
An employee within the OBI store was among those affected by the fire, and emergency services reported fatalities as a result of the blaze. The community and families of those impacted are awaiting additional details as investigators continue to piece together the sequence of events that led to the warehouse-type inferno. Law enforcement and prosecutors have pledged a thorough and transparent examination of the case, with updates provided as evidence is gathered and analyzed. The ongoing process aims to establish accountability, clarify the roles of all workers involved, and determine the appropriate legal consequences for any identified violations. In the interim, safety experts emphasize the importance of rigorous adherence to fire prevention measures, routine safety audits, and robust emergency protocols in all large commercial developments to prevent a similar catastrophe in the future.