The 2nd Western District Military Court sentenced Ryazan resident Artur Zimalong to 13 years in prison in a case over a terrorist act that caused significant property damage. The court’s press service reported this.
At the time of sentencing, the young man was 20 years old. Under the ruling, he is to spend the first four years in prison, with the remainder of the term to be served in a maximum-security penal colony.
According to law enforcement, last summer Zimalong received an offer on Telegram from an unidentified person to commit a terrorist act in exchange for money. Investigators say he agreed, bought gasoline, and on the night of June 21, 2025, went to a locomotive at Ryazan-1 station.
The court release says he smashed the locomotive’s side window, poured fuel inside the cab, and set it on fire with a lighter. According to the court, he recorded the fire on his phone in order to send the footage to his “handler” as proof.
Law enforcement estimated the damage caused by the arson at 11 million rubles. The case was heard under clauses “a” and “v” of Part 2 of Article 205 of the Russian Criminal Code, covering a terrorist act involving significant damage.
In court, Zimalong said he had no intent to commit a terrorist act or to “destabilize the activity of government bodies,” as the prosecution claimed. He said he committed the arson solely for money. The court did not accept those arguments.