A Dynamo translator named Artem Zhuravlev was inside the Crocus City Hall auditorium when the terrorist attack unfolded. His account was reported by Sport Express and is one of several eyewitness perspectives that shed light on what happened that day.
He arrived roughly five minutes before the violence began. The attacker moved alone through the space as the crowd settled in for the event. At first, the sounds were misread as cheering or a celebratory display, with people interpreting crackles and pops as fireworks. It wasn’t until the fear spread that the severity became evident, and ordinary chatter gave way to anxious whispers and stunned silence. Zhuravlev recalls a sudden shift from routine to alarm as the magnitude of the danger became undeniable.
His memory of the event itself is fragmented by shock. He cannot recall the exact moment the first shots rang out, but he remembers how quickly order dissolved into urgency. Some people moved toward the front of the hall; others dashed toward rear doors in a desperate bid to safety. In that moment, the crowd’s response was organized rather than chaotic, a testament to instinctive composure under duress. The translator describes a mix of relief and adrenaline as the doors opened and they began to exit, prioritizing calm and controlled movement over panic.
News reports confirm that the attack on March 22 targeted the Crocus City shopping complex, with gunfire followed by an incendiary assault on the concert venue. The assailants were eventually detained and taken into custody, ending the immediate danger but leaving behind a city-wide impact that would resonate for days and weeks. Eyewitness accounts, security footage reviews, and investigative updates painted a fuller picture of the sequence of events and the response that helped prevent further tragedy.
Among those present at the hall were well-known figures from Russian sports and entertainment who managed to reach safety. Notably, a celebrated sports commentator, Viktor Gusev, and his spouse, along with actor and comedian Sergei Svetlakov, escaped the building as the danger escalated. In the aftermath, observers highlighted how the collapse and debris required careful analysis to understand what had occurred inside the venue. Shocking scenes were tempered by professional assessments and the resilience shown by attendees as they sought shelter and assistance. The reconstruction of the dome by a local athlete, Slava, and the input of others who helped assess the wreckage contributed to a clearer understanding of the event’s physical damage and the challenges faced by responders.
A former Dynamo player offered reflections on the trip to Crocus that did not go as hoped, noting the unsettling contrast between preparation and the sudden chaos that interrupted travel plans. His remarks underscored the unpredictable nature of such incidents and the enduring need for preparedness and clear-headed action in the aftermath. The varied experiences of witnesses—from relief at escaping to the emotional aftershocks of witnessing danger—form a broader narrative about how communities process trauma after a high-profile attack.