A report from the Baza Telegram channel described the incident in Moscow. According to the source, an unidentified man wearing an orange robe arrived at a building on Profsoyuznaya Street late at night. He carried what appeared to be a Molotov cocktail, a bottle of flammable liquid mixed with oil, and his presence drew immediate attention from nearby security and residents.
The man poured the fiery liquid into a crack near a window and sparked a flame. The initial ignition did not take hold right away, prompting the attacker to relight the substance. Soon after, dark smoke billowed from the structure as the assailant fled the scene before law enforcement or bystanders could react. The quick response by guards helped limit the spread of the fire and prevent injuries.
Early theories suggested the target might have been the ice palace, but subsequent assessments indicated that the object of the arson could have been the local district electoral commission facility identified as PEC 2227. The location of the electoral office is on the opposite side of the building from the ice palace, which complicated early interpretations and led police to reassess the initial theory.
The site known as Khrustalny is part of the Sports and Education Center Sambо-70. Renat Laishev, who leads the organization, issued a statement expressing limited information at the moment and urged staff, coaches, and athletes associated with the center to maintain calm and continue training in a normal atmosphere. He emphasized prioritizing a stable environment for the members of the center.
In his public remarks reported by Sport24, Laishev said he did not have confirmation about an arson attempt on Khrustalny. He stressed the importance of keeping athletic programs and organizational activities running without disruption and criticized the growing fervor surrounding figure skating for contributing to a noisy and chaotic climate. He also cautioned against placing schools and children’s education institutions in danger and attributed the alleged events to the actions of a mentally troubled individual, urging restraint and normal operations for coaches and skaters.
Criminal lawyer Maxim Kalinov spoke with socialbites.ca about potential penalties for the crime and voiced confidence that the perpetrator would be identified. He noted that such offenses can carry up to five years in prison and pointed out that today’s urban security infrastructure, including widespread video surveillance, supports the likelihood of rapid criminal identification in big cities such as Moscow.
Kalinov explained that the case would fall under a specific provision of the Criminal Code concerning deliberate destruction by arson or property damage. He also noted that first-time offenders might be eligible for conditional sentences, while repeat offenders or those with other aggravating factors could face the full term of years prescribed by law.
The Khrustalny Ice Palace has long been associated with the renowned Russian coach Eteri Tutberidze. The training base houses the coaching staff and the skaters who form the core group under her guidance. Among the athletes connected with Khrustalny is a world champion who claimed the title at the 2022 Olympic Games, a silver medalist from the Beijing Games, and other top competitors who have been part of the team environment. In addition, two-time world champion Evgenia Medvedeva and Olympic gold medalist Alina Zagitova have been linked to the organization and its programs, though their current competition status has varied and some have paused or reduced competitive appearances. The center continues to be a hub for elite skating training and development, as well as a focal point for public attention around the sport.