Russian Military Commissariats Attacks

A series of Molotov cocktail arson attacks and shootings took place in Russian military commissariat registration and enlistment offices following the start of the country's invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Other governmental buildings were also attacked in multiple regions of Russia. Part of the Russian partisan and anti-war movements, the attacks were spurred by several factors, including the invasion of Ukraine, the deployment of Russian conscripts to the front line, the start of spring conscription, and rumors about possible mobilization in the country, which were later found to be true.

Commissariat offices recruit servicemen to the Russian Army and choose who is eligible and ineligible for service. The attacks were not a single coordinated campaign; and were led by a variety of people, from left-wing anarchists and scammers to far-right groups and assorted lone wolf actors.

Chronology

Versions

In the Telegram channel "Oderint, Dum Metuant", the authors of which opposed the invasion of Ukraine and position themselves as a cell of the revived National Socialism / White Power, there were videos of some actions - on some unknown people set fire to cars with the letter Z, on others fires are visible in some buildings — the channel claims that supporters of the movement set fire to the warehouse of the "military facility", the police department and the military commissariats. The channel administrators even arranged a "quest", promising 15,000 rubles to anyone who sets fire to a car with the Z symbol, or 30,000 for setting fire to a police car. They planned to pay money in cryptocurrency. According to the security officials, the movement's associates could be involved in several arsons in central Russia.

In anonymous Telegram channels and on pro-Kremlin websites, allegations began to appear that the Security Service of Ukraine pays 30,000 rubles for setting fire to military commissariats, and this "must be filmed on camera".

According to another version, draft offices are set on fire by conscripts and those subject to possible mobilization.

Phone scams

Some reports indicate that some of the attacks are being committed by elderly people who have been tricked via phone to first hand over large amounts of money, and then in order to regain that money, perform an attack on a conscription center.

Legal proceedings

After beginning of mobilization, Vladimir Tsimlyansky, Representative of General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, in an interview with Rossiyskaya Gazeta stated "arson of military commissariat will be qualified as terrorist attack or calls for terrorist attack". According to Criminal Code of Russia, a person can get up to 15 years in prison for those charges.

Two men — from Saint Petersburg and from Chernyakhovsk — were charged with "Intentional damage or destruction of someone else's property" under Article 167. The man from Volgograd was arrested for Molotov attack and is now detained on charges of Article 167 as well as Article 213 "Hooliganism".

Another case has been opened under Article 205 "Terrorist act" for Molotov attacker from Krasnodar.

See also

* Russian partisan movement (2022–present)
* Russian mystery fires
* Attacks in Russia during the Russian invasion of Ukraine

References

{{Russian invasion of Ukraine
Attacks in Russia during the Russian invasion of Ukraine
2020s protests
Belarusian and Russian partisan movement (2022–present)
Protests in Russia
Spillover of the Russian invasion of Ukraine
Attacks on military installations in Russia
Attacks on military installations in the 2020s
Arson in the 2020s
Building and structure arson attacks in Russia
2020s fires in Europe
Draft evasion