By The Moscow Times | Created at 2026-10-02 10:20:20 | Updated at 2026-10-02 10:55:48
44 minutes ago
A major fire swept through a 19th-century landmark in central St. Petersburg on Thursday evening, destroying large sections of an empty historic mansion that is undergoing a multi-million-dollar renovation process to turn it into luxury apartments.
The blaze broke out shortly after 8 p.m. at the Miller Mansion in central St. Petersburg, across from St. Isaac's Cathedral, one of the city’s most iconic landmarks. By Friday morning, the mansion was completely burned out.
Emergency services raised the alarm to a 3-alarm fire as flames spread across 2,000 square meters (21,500 square feet) of the main building and reached the roof of an adjoining structure.
Authorities reported no injuries or deaths. Firefighters brought the flames under control overnight.
Investigators suspect welding work being conducted inside without proper safety precautions set off the fire.
The St. Petersburg branch of Russia’s Emergency Situations Ministry said the building’s old wooden floorboards, interior partitions and concealed wall cavities allowed the fire to travel rapidly between floors.
“We always consider every lead, starting with aliens,” spokesman Andrei Litovka told reporters late on Thursday.
Originally built in the late 18th century and redesigned in 1880 with Italian Renaissance-style facades, the protected heritage building had been scheduled for a major overhaul.
Earlier this year, a local developer secured a 768 million ruble ($9.2 million) loan to restore the site and convert it into a luxury residential development. The project was due to be completed in 2027.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Continue
Not ready to support today?
Remind me later.
