The incident involving the deputy chief of the RF Armed Forces General Staff, Yevgeny Sekretaryov, was captured by security cameras as his BMW X6 caught fire. The footage, broadcast by the Shot Telegram channel, shows the sequence near a residential building on Leningrad Highway in Moscow. A vehicle event unfolds with a woman driving past, returning, and performing actions at the rear of the car before the blaze erupts. Eyewitnesses immediately alerted emergency services, and firefighters arrived quickly to extinguish the flames. The rear section of the premium crossover sustained the most damage, and recovery estimates indicate the vehicle is unlikely to be repairable. The incident occurred on August 27, as reported by multiple channels. The car is identified as Sekretarev’s, who is affiliated with the eighth department handling information operations. The vehicle owner stated that the car was in the yard by accident and that he did not reside there. In a statement given to the Shot outlet, he claimed no personal conflict with anyone and reaffirmed that the investigation is ongoing. He noted that investigators are examining all aspects and that an application has been filed. He emphasized that no conflicts existed.
On the same day, law enforcement authorities detained a 65-year-old woman named Elena Belova who became a suspect in the case. During a police interaction, she shouted phrases associated with a banned organization in the country. The gate owner expressed some uncertainty about the situation, noting he had never met the woman before and that the posturing raises questions. Belova had previously appeared on interior ministry lists as missing, though no formal charges were recorded at that time. Her daughter later filed a formal statement, and Belova was released from custody after questioning.
Belova’s family indicated that she had planned to assist the Russian armed forces. A dialogue provided to Shot allegedly depicts the woman’s alleged contact with a person described as her curator, suggesting the use of lighter fluid in the incident. The relative hinted that the family had been warned of impending costs related to another BMW model, the X5. Telegram channel Baza later reported that the suspect may have mistaken her actions for participation in a supposed special operation intended to aid the Russian army. Sources described the woman as being pressured by figures claiming to represent banned factions, urging her to deliver statements aligning with those factions.
Family members suggested Belova had been unusually preoccupied in the days leading up to the event, speaking on the phone frequently. After the arson, they observed intensified outreach from alleged scammers, including calls to Belova’s daughter demanding a ransom. Baza reports the retiree reportedly did not previously admit any involvement in arson and did not publicly endorse any military actions. The family believes external manipulation could have influenced her behavior, with some suggesting she may have been subjected to coercive influence. At the time of reporting, investigators were evaluating all leads and reviewing communications tied to the case. The broader context involves complex public sentiment around security operations and the ongoing discourse about alleged operations stated to support the Russian military. [Citation: Shot Telegram channel; Baza; law enforcement updates]”