An 18-year-old was detained in central Moscow after allegedly attempting to set fire to a military conscription point. According to Rosgvardia, the suspect claimed he was coerced by fraudsters.

The fire was quickly extinguished, resulting in only minor soot damage to the building’s wall. The detained individual stated in a video that he was promised his family would be imprisoned if he did not commit the act.

Legal experts suggest the young man could face severe penalties, potentially up to 20 years in prison, under Article 205 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (act of terrorism). While other charges, such as property destruction by arson or vandalism, are possible, they are considered less likely. Intentional destruction of property by arson carries a maximum sentence of five years, while vandalism can result in arrest for up to three months.

In 2022, the General Staff of the Russian Army announced that arson attacks on military registration and enlistment offices would be treated as acts of terrorism. Data from the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation indicates a significant increase in such incidents since the beginning of the Special Military Operation (SMO), with 220 arson attacks targeting military registration and enlistment offices and other government facilities as of January 2024.

A similar incident occurred in April, where a 13-year-old allegedly set fire to the door of a police station in Moscow, reportedly under the direction of fraudsters.