In Moscow on May 16, a man who drew red crosses on the city’s asphalt near the center was detained, and a criminal case was opened. The report was shared by the Basis telegraph channel. The incident sparked a wave of speculation across social media and news outlets, prompting authorities to investigate the intent behind the markings and their potential implications for public safety.
According to Baza, images of the cross markings appeared on Ukrainian public pages with claims that they acted as beacons for drones. Russian media, however, described the reports as misinformation and explained that such crosses could denote geodetic points used in topographic surveying for urban planning. The authorities and experts noted that these points are part of standard surveying practices and are not unusual in major cities with dense infrastructure.
The investigation identified the individual as a 25-year-old named Konstantin Kochanov, who is alleged to have drawn a cross between two streets, between Nizhnyaya Krasnoselskaya Street and Bolshoy Kozlovsky Lane, near residential buildings. Investigators asserted that the graffiti could pose a real threat to state security by causing public alarm or misinterpretation of critical infrastructure details.
Initial police guidance reportedly suggested there was no immediate plan to press charges. Yet as the case progressed, Kochanov was charged with hooliganism linked to political animosity, a formulation often used in cases involving public space vandalism that intersects with political tensions.
Earlier reports from Moscow described an arrest involving a Ukrainian national who was found to be connected to another individual wanted by Russian authorities, illustrating the complex and sometimes entangled narratives that accompany urban incidents in the capital. The evolving story underscores how quickly online channels and traditional media can shape public perception during moments of crowded urban life and heightened security concerns, especially when markers or symbols appear in public space.