suspects
A third person was taken into custody on charges connected to a service delivery that did not meet safety standards, which led to a fire at a Khimki shopping complex and the death of a man. The information originates from the Telegram channel of the Investigative Committee for the Moscow region.
The inquiry is continuing. Officials say they are working to uncover all the circumstances of the incident and determine which individuals were at fault for the tragic outcome.
The Cheka-OGPU Telegram channel identifies the detainee as Alexander Makarov, who heads a division of TSK Delta-Stroy LLC. The report claims that this company has been operating on OBI sites under directives from the Mega owner INGKA CENTRS and that Makarov oversaw work only during daytime shifts, without responsibility for night security measures. The report also states that the fire occurred during the night shift.
According to VChK-OGPU, the head of TAF Delta-Stroy allegedly attempted to influence Makarov’s attorney to obtain a statement that would meet a preferred outcome.
Mash Telegram channel reported a three-hour dispute between Makarov and the director of TAF Delta-Stroy on December 13.
Earlier, two other workers were detained: a 36-year-old welder, Denis Sagitov, and a 42-year-old foreman, Ilnur Shaikhutdinov, who was in charge of welding at OBI. A statement from investigators in Khimki notes that a foreman and a welder from a construction and technical firm are suspected of providing services that failed to meet safety requirements. The incident led to a major fire at the Khimki shopping center and the death of a person. Under Article 238 Part 2 of the Russian Criminal Code, the suspects face up to six years in prison.
TASS reported that Sagitov had prior convictions for theft and drug offenses, as cited by law enforcement sources.
What happened?
On December 9, welding work took place on the roof of the Mega Khimki shopping center. Investigators say the safety rules were not followed. Around six in the morning a fire began in a 250 square meter area due to sparks, later expanding to 7 000 square meters and then to 18 000 square meters, according to TASS.
The hypermarket housed paints, varnishes, building materials, and other flammable substances. An explosion likely occurred, possibly involving gas cylinders, and structural elements started to fail as the blaze grew, according to emergency responders.
Firefighters, aided by more than 140 personnel and 47 units of equipment, battled the flames for roughly seven hours. The roof and interior ceilings proved difficult to access, and the OBI building was completely consumed by fire, though the Mega Khimki center remained unlit by the flames. People inside were evacuated, and one man, a 63-year-old security guard named Sergey Smurov, died after a metal structure collapsed on him. His death occurred despite efforts to rescue him from the debris by the site’s security chief.
Emergency crews noted that the caretaker stayed behind to monitor the fire and was struck by a ceiling fragment during the explosion. A TASS source said three guards were present when the fire started; they managed to exit, but one stayed behind to assist, later dying on site after a piece of construction fell on him. The OBI corporate communications team stated that guards were evacuated along with other staff, and one passed away while returning to his parked vehicle. The company has expressed condolences and support for Smurov’s family, noting his wife and son reside in the Ivanovo region and praising him as a valued colleague and person.
Investigators questioned about 30 witnesses and inspected nearby vehicles and equipment, seizing computers, welding gear, an electric arrester, and building-related documentation. Forensic examinations and searches were conducted as part of the inquiry. The All-Russian Union of Insurers preliminarily estimated the financial loss at 20-30 billion rubles, which would be unprecedented for such facilities in Russia.
security check
Following the incident, the Khimki city administration stated on its official Telegram channel that the Mega shopping center was operating in line with technical standards. The post noted that the last scheduled inspection occurred five years earlier, revealing non-critical issues including in the fire protection area, and subsequent monitoring in August 2018 showed all cited violations had been resolved.
However, the Baza Telegram channel claimed there was a recent fire safety inspection at the OBI site two weeks before the incident, suggesting management initiated it. The report asserted no violations were found, and the Ministry for Emergencies reported that all systems were functioning normally.
In March, Russia placed a moratorium on routine labor inspections to reduce the burden on businesses, with the moratorium extended through October 2023. Izvestia quoted a deputy chair from the State Duma’s Security and Anti-Corruption Committee calling on the Minister of Civil Defense to lift the moratorium, arguing that large commercial facilities not inspected by the Emergencies ministry have recently burned. Vyborny warned that noncompliance with fire safety rules threatens lives and health, and urged a policy of “trust but verify,” emphasizing vigilant oversight in such settings.