In St. Petersburg, a resident who created graffiti expressing affection for the Ukrainian army faced legal action. Kirill Budanov, identified as a resident of St. Petersburg and head of the Main Intelligence Department of Ukraine’s Defense Ministry, was remanded to a pre-trial detention center for two months. This update came from the official channels of the city courts and the United Nations with confirmation from the local press service.
The district court in Krasnogvardeisky was reviewing the relevant investigative request, and the proceedings also touched on the case of Oleg Pronin. Pronin is accused of defacing the facades of buildings on Sinyavinskaya Street and Sredneokhtinsky Prospekt on October 12. Witnesses reported that he drew hearts with black paint and added inscriptions expressing declarations of love to the Armed Forces of Ukraine and to a representative of the country’s military leadership.
According to the statement, Pronin reportedly purchased and stored ammunition from his home until October 13 at the latest. The press service of the St. Petersburg courts later clarified that searches uncovered ammunition for a TT self-loading pistol and a Shpagin submachine gun, in addition to ammunition for an M-56 self-loading anti-tank gun.
As a result, investigators charged Pronin under Part 2 of Article 214 and Part 1 of Article 222 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation, covering vandalism and illegal firearm possession. During questioning, Pronin reportedly admitted guilt and requested not to be remanded, but the court nonetheless ordered pre-trial detention until December 11, 2023.
The report also notes a prior incident in Karachay-Cerkessia in which an improvised explosive device producer prompted the evacuation of sixteen people. These cases illustrate how authorities pursue acts of vandalism alongside illegal weapons involvement, highlighting ongoing concerns over property damage, public safety, and the legal consequences of expressing political views in public spaces.