Officers in the Nizhny Novgorod region are quietly tracing a disturbing pattern on city streets. Local law enforcement say a group of youths has been responsible for beating pedestrians while on the look-out for reactions from bystanders. Reports indicate that members of this group, described as seventh graders, have been filming the attacks and then sharing the footage online. The information comes from the department’s press service, which confirms that the incidents are being treated as serious offenses and that investigators are gathering evidence from multiple witnesses. Community safety officials have highlighted the risk such videos pose, noting that they can encourage copycat behavior and escalate violence in crowded areas. Authorities stress that youth violence is a priority and that every lead is being pursued to identify those involved and to determine the full extent of the harm caused.
Within the Avtozavodsky district, witnesses describe multiple episodes where passers-by were assaulted for amusement by young people. Eyewitnesses stated the schoolchildren did not appear to have a protest motive but rather engaged in what they described as a game. The attackers reportedly recorded the episodes themselves and later posted the videos online, a factor that has drawn attention from both the public and authorities. Investigators are looking into whether the recordings were used to share intimidation or to seek peer validation among peers. In several cases, residents intervened or called emergency services to help those who were attacked.
According to local media, the youths are seventh graders at school number 169 and one of the alleged offenders has already been identified. The regional Investigation Committee has taken charge of the inquiry, coordinating with school authorities and local police to review surveillance footage and interview witnesses. The investigation aims to establish whether other students were involved and to determine the sequence of events surrounding each attack. Officials have emphasized that any form of juvenile aggression is unacceptable and that appropriate measures will be taken to address violence in and around schools. The department’s press service noted that additional information would be released as soon as it becomes available through official channels.
Earlier reports referenced an incident in the Tula region where a young person was attacked; the victim was described as underage, with notes about hairstyle mentioned in the coverage. The attacked individual collapsed and lost consciousness, while a separate assailant, described as intoxicated, attacked a friend nearby. That friend sustained a broken jaw, a traumatic brain injury, multiple bruises, and required stitches in three places. Passersby provided assistance to the wounded before medical teams arrived.
Similar violence has been reported in other settings, with groups of young people converging on a man who was drinking on a playground and subjecting him to an attack. The witnesses described a chaotic scene, with bystanders stepping in to separate the group and to call for help. Authorities say they are reviewing all available footage, including any videos circulated online, to identify participants and establish timelines. Community leaders have urged schools and families to address violence, monitor social media activity, and collaborate with law enforcement to reduce the risk to pedestrians and residents.