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Fire at the Winter Cherry shopping centre in Kemerovo

Kemerovo, Kemerovo region · 25 Mar 2018 · Fire

On 25 March 2018 a fire broke out at the Winter Cherry shopping and entertainment centre in Kemerovo. According to the Prosecutor General's Office, 60 people died, 37 of them children.

Official figures

Dead
60
as of 12 Apr 2019 · archive copy
Of them children
37
as of 12 Apr 2019 · archive copy
Injured
147
as of 12 Apr 2019 · archive copy

First version and outcome

What officials and state media named as the cause, those responsible and the toll in the first three days, and what investigators and courts later established. Side by side, with no assessment of ours.

First three days: 25 Mar 2018 to 28 Mar 2018

  1. 25 Mar 2018 · TollA spokesperson for the Investigative Committee's Kemerovo office: Dead at the scene: three children, I can't say their ages yet, and one woman
  2. 25 Mar 2018, 19:08 Moscow time · TollMinistry of Emergencies: Earlier, social media posts said several visitors were in a toilet on one of the floors of the burning building. The Ministry of Emergencies did not confirm this.
  3. 25 Mar 2018, 19:16 Moscow time · ResponsibilityRinat Enikeev, Chief State Fire Inspector of Russia: The ministry's chief state fire inspector Rinat Enikeev said the centre had not been inspected by the fire authorities because it was a small business, covered by the moratorium on inspections.
  4. 25 Mar 2018, 19:22 Moscow time · CauseTASS, citing a source in the emergency services: A source in the emergency services said a foam ball caught fire under a child in the play room. It is not ruled out that this happened because of children playing with fire, he said.
  5. 25 Mar 2018, 19:45 Moscow time · ResponsibilityAlexander Bastrykin, Chairman of the Investigative Committee: not only among the owners and tenants but also among the officials of the supervisory bodies whose duties include detecting fire-safety violations at the site
  6. 26 Mar 2018, 00:07 Moscow time · TollThe Kemerovo region's emergency headquarters: According to the emergency headquarters' preliminary data, 37 are known to have died and more than 40 people sought medical help. The fate of several dozen more people remains unknown.
  7. 26 Mar 2018, 07:10 Moscow time · TollSvetlana Petrenko, Investigative Committee spokesperson: The investigation of the criminal case over the fire at the shopping centre in Kemerovo has confirmed the deaths of 56 people
  8. 26 Mar 2018, 14:25 Moscow time · CauseVladimir Puchkov, Minister of Emergencies: Vladimir Puchkov said it was too early to speak of the causes of the fire.
  9. 26 Mar 2018, 14:37 Moscow time · ResponsibilitySvetlana Petrenko, Investigative Committee spokesperson: The fire exits in the centre were blocked
  10. 26 Mar 2018, 14:56 Moscow time · ResponsibilityValentina Matviyenko, Speaker of the Federation Council: All those found guilty must be punished most severely; they deserve such punishment if this is negligence, if this is inattention to safety
  11. 26 Mar 2018, 17:43 Moscow time · CauseVladimir Puchkov, Minister of Emergencies: A terrorist attack is not being considered
  12. 26 Mar 2018, 18:01 Moscow time · TollSergei Menyailo, presidential envoy to the Siberian Federal District: intends to check media reports of non-disclosure undertakings allegedly demanded from the relatives of the fire's victims who arrive for identification
  13. 26 Mar 2018, 19:02 Moscow time · TollInvestigative Committee of Russia: Information circulating on social media about supposedly hundreds of victims of the tragedy in Kemerovo is not supported by anything and does not correspond to reality
  14. 27 Mar 2018, 03:49 Moscow time · TollVladlen Aksenov, Deputy Minister of Emergencies: 64 people died in the fire. The emergency headquarters had and has no other information
  15. 27 Mar 2018, 07:15 Moscow time · ResponsibilityVladimir Putin, President of Russia: We talk about demography and we lose so many people. Because of what? Because of some criminal negligence, because of slovenliness.
  16. 27 Mar 2018, 07:15 Moscow time · ResponsibilityVladimir Puchkov, Minister of Emergencies: V. Puchkov: Control and supervision of small and medium enterprises are also on holiday, Comrade President of the Russian Federation. V. Putin: Listen, that does not apply to safety.
  17. 27 Mar 2018, 07:15 Moscow time · CauseAlexander Bastrykin, Chairman of the Investigative Committee: There are two versions: either spontaneous ignition from faulty wiring that short-circuited, or the version we believe less, the use of an open flame.
  18. 27 Mar 2018, 07:15 Moscow time · ResponsibilityVladimir Putin, President of Russia: A legal assessment must be given of the actions of every official. Study everything carefully and give a legal assessment. No one can hide behind some holiday.
  19. 27 Mar 2018, 07:15 Moscow time · CauseAman Tuleyev, Governor of the Kemerovo region: Those I met say there was a children's party and there were fireworks. This is preliminary; eyewitnesses say so.
  20. 27 Mar 2018, 08:20 Moscow time · ResponsibilityVladimir Putin, President of Russia: They will go along the whole chain, from the moment this building was re-registered and permission was given to turn a factory into an entertainment centre, and who allowed these materials to be used for such a purpose.
  21. 27 Mar 2018, 13:54 Moscow time · ResponsibilityInvestigative Committee of Russia: Investigators are asking for the arrest of the accused in the criminal case opened after the fire at the Kemerovo shopping centre.
  22. 27 Mar 2018, 20:33 Moscow time · TollSvetlana Petrenko, Investigative Committee spokesperson: the prankster gave false information in order to destabilise the situation in the region
  23. 28 Mar 2018, 02:39 Moscow time · TollRAPSI, Rossiya Segodnya news agency: We found five main myths that were spread intensively in the first day after the tragedy. None of them received any evidence or factual basis.
  24. 28 Mar 2018, 09:15 Moscow time · TollVladlen Aksenov, Deputy Minister of Emergencies: There are no missing persons. We have no information about relatives who do not know where their loved ones are
  25. 28 Mar 2018, 17:15 Moscow time · TollVladimir Putin, President of Russia: And second: we see that, unfortunately, there are plants through social networks, including from abroad, to sow panic and distrust and set people against each other.
  26. 28 Mar 2018, 17:15 Moscow time · ResponsibilityVladimir Putin, President of Russia: Yesterday I looked at the record of the building's inspection in 2016, including by fire service staff. What did I read? It even sounds strange: "No remarks".
  27. 28 Mar 2018, 18:33 Moscow time · TollBasmanny District Court, Moscow: It was reported earlier that the Investigative Committee had opened a criminal case against the prankster under article 282 of the Criminal Code

Later: investigation, courts, official findings

  1. 29 Mar 2018, 18:10 Moscow time · TollDmitry Peskov, the President's press secretary: We identified the plants: they came mainly from two countries, Ukraine and Turkey
  2. 30 Mar 2018 · ResponsibilityA court, at the Investigative Committee's request: On 30 March 2018 the former head of the Kemerovo region's State Construction Supervision Inspection, Tanzilya Komkova, was arrested.
  3. 1 Apr 2018, 10:57 Moscow time · ResponsibilitySergei Tsivilev, acting Governor of the Kemerovo region: No one will be shielded or hidden.
  4. 18 Apr 2018, 16:26 Moscow time · ResponsibilitySvetlana Petrenko, Investigative Committee spokesperson: The investigation has documents from the prosecutors of the Kemerovo region and of Kemerovo on the need to exclude small and medium businesses from scheduled inspections
  5. 20 Apr 2018 · TollSvetlana Petrenko, Investigative Committee spokesperson: allowed the investigation to determine the final number of those who died in the fire: 60
  6. 25 May 2018, 09:42 Moscow time · ResponsibilityInvestigative Committee of Russia: the head of the Ministry of Emergencies' Kemerovo regional directorate, Alexander Mamontov, the head of the regional ministry's supervision department for the city of Kemerovo, Grigory Terentyev, and others
  7. 21 Mar 2019 · ResponsibilityMinistry of Emergencies: In the situation they found themselves in, the firefighters acted according to the situation
  8. 25 Mar 2019 · ResponsibilityInvestigative Committee of Russia: the complex's owners, chasing profit, tried to cut costs wherever possible. And first of all they saved on people's safety.
  9. 12 Apr 2019, 11:44 Moscow time · CauseProsecutor General's Office: the fire started from a short circuit in the electrical wiring on the fourth floor
  10. 12 Apr 2019, 11:44 Moscow time · ResponsibilityProsecutor General's Office: The fire-suppression system was not connected to the alarm, which kept it from working, and the automatic water and powder suppression systems were faulty.
  11. 16 May 2019, 08:30 Moscow time · ResponsibilityInvestigative Committee of Russia: Clearly, when inspecting and issuing documents confirming that the rebuilt building met building rules and standards, the construction supervision staff turned a blind eye to a great deal.
  12. 14 Oct 2019 · ResponsibilityArbitration courts: The permit was signed in March 2014 by a deputy head of Kemerovo city, after the regional construction supervision inspection gave the building a positive assessment.
  13. 24 Mar 2020 · ResponsibilityInvestigative Committee of Russia: The owner of the Winter Cherry shopping centre, Vyacheslav Vishnevsky, has been extradited to the Russian Federation
  14. 29 Oct 2021 · ResponsibilityZavodsky District Court, Kemerovo: Kemerovo's Zavodsky District Court sentenced the former director of the Kemerovo Confectionery Plant (the main owner of the Winter Cherry centre), Yulia Bogdanova, to 14 years in a general-regime penal colony.
  15. 29 Oct 2021 · ResponsibilityInvestigative Committee of Russia: The Investigative Committee has brought criminal charges against all persons whose actions or inaction predetermined the tragedy
  16. 22 Nov 2021 · ResponsibilityMinistry of Emergencies: The separate ruling the court addressed to the acting head of the Ministry of Emergencies, Alexander Chupriyan, says the ministry trains its staff poorly.
  17. 24 Dec 2021 · ResponsibilityCentral District Court, Kemerovo: On 24 December 2021 Kemerovo's Central District Court sentenced Tanzilya Komkova to 18 years in a general-regime penal colony.
  18. 7 Oct 2022 · ResponsibilityCentral District Court, Kemerovo: On 7 October 2022 Kemerovo's Central District Court sentenced Vyacheslav Vishnevsky, former director and co-owner of Winter Cherry, to eight years in a strict-regime penal colony for a bribe to the head of the regional construction supervision.
  19. 27 Jun 2023 · ResponsibilityCentral District Court, Kemerovo: Alexander Mamontov, former head of the Ministry of Emergencies' Kemerovo regional directorate, got 10.5 years (negligence and embezzlement); Grigory Terentyev, former chief state fire inspector for Kemerovo, got 8.5 years.
  20. 29 Mar 2024 · ResponsibilityKemerovo Regional Court: to release Mamontov from punishment under part 3 of article 293 of the Criminal Code (negligence) because the limitation period has expired
  21. 4 Oct 2024 · ResponsibilityRelatives of the dead (claims at Moscow's Dorogomilovsky District Court): The claims for moral damages were brought against the Ministry of Emergencies and OJSC Kemerovo Confectionery Plant.

Timeline: key decisions

Decrees, resignations, appointments, verdicts, laws and memorials. All statements, inspections, cases and money are in the full timeline.

  1. 27 Mar 2018, 05:50 Moscow timeMemorial. Vladimir Putin, President of Russia: Putin flew to Kemerovo and laid flowers at the building.
    “The head of state honoured the memory of the dead, laying flowers at the makeshift memorial in front of the building.”
    Сайт Президента России, archive copy
  2. 27 Mar 2018, 13:15 Moscow timeDecree or resolution. Vladimir Putin, President of Russia: Decree No. 123 declared 28 March a day of mourning and told the Government and the regions to help the families.
    “4. The Government of the Russian Federation, together with the state authorities of the regions, shall take the necessary measures to help the families of the dead and the injured.”
    Сайт Президента России, archive copy
  3. 28 Mar 2018Memorial. Russian Federation: 28 March was a national day of mourning.
    “1. To declare 28 March 2018 a day of mourning in the Russian Federation.”
    Сайт Президента России, archive copy
  4. 1 Apr 2018, 09:25 Moscow timeDecree or resolution. Vladimir Putin, President of Russia: Decree No. 137 accepted Tuleyev's resignation at his own request and appointed Sergei Tsivilev acting governor.
    “1. To accept the resignation of the Governor of the Kemerovo region, A.G. Tuleyev, at his own request.”
    Сайт Президента России, archive copy
  5. 1 Apr 2018Resignation. Aman Tuleyev, Governor of the Kemerovo region: Tuleyev explained his resignation in a video address.
    “the only right decision, because with such a heavy burden one cannot stay governor; morally one cannot”
    Интерфакс, archive copy
  6. 21 Aug 2018Memorial. Kemerovo city administration: The shopping centre's building was demolished.
    “On 21 August 2018 it was completely demolished.”
    РИА Новости, archive copy
  7. 15 Sep 2019Memorial. Kemerovo regional and city authorities: The "Park of Angels" opened on the site of the centre.
    “The park was officially opened on 15 September 2019.”
    ТАСС, archive copy
  8. 14 Oct 2019Verdict. Arbitration courts: The arbitration court invalidated the city's 2014 permit to put the centre into use; the city's appeal was rejected.
    “The permit was signed in March 2014 by a deputy head of Kemerovo city, after the regional construction supervision inspection gave the building a positive assessment.”
    ТАСС, archive copy
  9. 11 Dec 2019Verdict. Rudnichny District Court, Kemerovo: On 30 claims the court ordered the owner company to pay 118 million roubles to relatives of the dead.₽118m
    “ruled on 30 claims by victims to recover from JSC Kemerovo Confectionery Plant compensation beyond damages totalling 118 million roubles”
    ТАСС, archive copy
  10. 30 Jan 2020Law. Government of Russia: The Government sent the Duma a bill on liability for repeated fire-safety violations, citing the Kemerovo fire.
    “the need for the changes arose after the fire at the Winter Cherry shopping and entertainment complex in Kemerovo, in which 60 people died”
    Право.ru, archive copy
  11. 29 Oct 2021Verdict. Zavodsky District Court, Kemerovo: In the first case Yulia Bogdanova, former director of the Kemerovo Confectionery Plant (the centre's main owner), got 14 years; Nadezhda Suddenok, director of the main tenant, 13.5; Georgy Sobolev, the plant's technical director, 11; Igor Polozinenko, director of the firm that serviced the fire alarm, 6.5; a guard, an engineer and two firefighters got 5 to 8 years.
    “Kemerovo's Zavodsky District Court sentenced the former director of the Kemerovo Confectionery Plant (the main owner of the Winter Cherry centre), Yulia Bogdanova, to 14 years in a general-regime penal colony.”
    ТАСС, archive copy
  12. 24 Dec 2021Verdict. Central District Court, Kemerovo: In the second case (a bribe for approving the building) Tanzilya Komkova, former head of the regional construction supervision inspection, got 18 years; three others got 7 to 15 years.
    “On 24 December 2021 Kemerovo's Central District Court sentenced Tanzilya Komkova to 18 years in a general-regime penal colony.”
    ТАСС, archive copy
  13. 7 Oct 2022Verdict. Central District Court, Kemerovo: Vyacheslav Vishnevsky, the owner company's former co-owner and director, got eight years for bribing the head of the regional construction supervision inspection.
    “On 7 October 2022 Kemerovo's Central District Court sentenced Vyacheslav Vishnevsky, former director and co-owner of Winter Cherry, to eight years in a strict-regime penal colony for a bribe to the head of the regional construction supervision.”
    ТАСС, archive copy
  14. 27 Jun 2023Verdict. Central District Court, Kemerovo: Alexander Mamontov, former head of the Ministry of Emergencies' Kemerovo regional directorate, got 10.5 years (negligence and embezzlement); Grigory Terentyev, former chief state fire inspector for Kemerovo, got 8.5 years.ТАСС, archive copy

Full timeline: 73 entries, 25 Mar 2018 to 4 Mar 2025 →

Promises after the emergency

Every promise made after the event is a card in the promise ledger, with its status from documents.

Money

  1. 26 Mar 2018, 20:00 Moscow time₽76m — Order No. 508-r allocated 76 million roubles from the Government's reserve fund for one-off allowances: 1 million roubles per person killed to their families, 200,000 to 400,000 roubles to the injured.
  2. 11 Dec 2019₽118m — On 30 claims the court ordered the owner company to pay 118 million roubles to relatives of the dead.

Attention over time

How many times the event's article in the Russian Wikipedia was read: every day for the first 90 days, and every month since.

First 90 days: views a day
010,00020,00030,00040,000day 1day 15day 30day 45day 60day 75day 90First 90 days: views a day
By month: views a month
0100,000200,000300,000400,000201820192020202120222023202420252026By month: views a month
Views on selected days
DayDateViews
day 125 Mar 201834
day 226 Mar 201835,681
day 327 Mar 201819,181
day 731 Mar 201811,446
day 147 Apr 20183,590
day 3023 Apr 20181,527
day 6023 May 2018925
day 9022 Jun 2018578
Views by year (to 30 Sep 2026)
YearViews
2018419,556
2019243,156
2020184,481
2021349,162
2022269,332
2023303,232
2024736,212
2025339,104
2026152,839

Independent estimateWikimedia Pageviews API: Просмотры статьи «Пожар в торговом центре «Зимняя вишня»»; people only, known bots excluded; views of redirects to the article are not counted, there are few. The figures are Wikimedia's own count, by its published method. archive copy

This measures readers' interest, not media coverage. The number of state and other media articles per day in 2018 is not measured yet: it needs archives of publications that are still being checked.

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