A St. Petersburg resident has been sentenced to two years of probation for setting fire to a cellular communication equipment cabinet, acting on instructions from unknown individuals. The Primorsky District Court delivered the verdict on June 5, according to the joint press service of St. Petersburg courts.

The incident occurred on June 16, 2024, when the individual was contacted via Telegram and offered payment to set fire to a metal, climate-controlled cabinet housing cellular communication equipment. The cabinet was located at the intersection of Suzdalsky Highway and Orlovo-Denisovsky Prospekt.

The man admitted to purchasing gasoline, traveling to the site, dousing the cabinet in fuel, and igniting it with a lighter. The resulting fire destroyed equipment belonging to T2 Mobile LLC, with damages exceeding 266,000 rubles.

The defendant fully confessed to his crime and expressed remorse. The court considered his admission of guilt and repentance when determining the sentence, resulting in a two-year probationary period.

It is important to note that similar cases involving arson of railway relay cabinets are being treated as sabotage, leading to stricter penalties. Defendants in those cases typically receive real prison sentences, with a portion of the punishment served in a correctional facility.