Archive · 23 Dec 2025
Russian Defence Boss Self-Immolates Over Contract Struggles
Vladimir Arsenyev is a 75-year-old scientist who runs a company in Moscow that makes parts for communication devices used in tanks.
When Russia started the war in Ukraine, his company got a lot of orders from the Russian government.
But these orders were very hard to fulfill because they had to make a lot more parts very quickly and at prices set by the government.
If they didn't meet the deadlines, they could go to jail.
Arsenyev tried to get help, but no one listened.
His company was about to go bankrupt, so he set himself on fire in front of the Kremlin to protest.
He spent weeks in the hospital with bad burns.
He says his company is still having problems, and he spends a lot of time in court trying to fix things.
The Russian government and defence ministry didn't answer questions about his case.
Vladimir Arsenyev, head of a Moscow firm making tank communication components, faced extreme pressure to meet defence contract deadlines.
His company, Volna, struggled with production delays and financial issues, leading to a near-bankruptcy situation.
Arsenyev set himself on fire in Red Square on July 26, 2024, in protest against the government's handling of defence contracts.
At least 34 people have faced criminal charges for disrupting state defence orders since the start of the Ukraine war.
The Russian government threatened defence manufacturers with jail time for failing to meet contractual obligations, invoking Stalin-era tactics.
- Who
- Vladimir Arsenyev, a 75-year-old scientist and head of a Moscow firm that makes components for communication devices used by tank crews.
- What
- Arsenyev set himself on fire in Red Square, Moscow, in a protest against the pressures of defence contracts.
- When
- The incident occurred on July 26, 2024.
- Where
- The self-immolation took place outside the Kremlin, near the mausoleum of Vladimir Lenin in Red Square, Moscow.
- Why
- Arsenyev faced immense pressure to meet tight deadlines and production quotas for defence contracts, leading to financial and legal troubles for his company.
- Name
- Vladimir Arsenyev
- Age
- 75
- Company
- Volna Central Scientific Research Institute
- Role
- Head of Moscow firm
- Incident Date
- July 26, 2024
- Location
- Red Square, Moscow
- Defence Contracts
- Communication devices for tank crews
- Criminal Charges
- At least 34 people charged since Ukraine war start
