In St. Petersburg, Sergei Mikhailov, a participant in the war against Ukraine, allegedly attacked his former girlfriend by pouring nitric acid on her head and stabbing her. The woman is now in intensive care. Ostorozhno, Petersburg and 78 Novosti reported that the attacker has been detained.
What happened
According to journalists, the attack took place the previous evening on Vasilyevsky Island. The former serviceman forced his way into his ex-partner’s apartment carrying a gas spray canister, a pistol, a knife, and a container of nitric acid. He poured the acid over the woman’s head, and the chemicals struck her face, neck, and hands. He then, according to the reports, cut her with a knife.
Ostorozhno, Petersburg says a friend of the victim was also in the apartment, but neither woman was able to stop the attacker. According to 78 Novosti, the victim’s current partner called her during the attack, but the attacker answered the phone and said that she was dead.
The victim’s condition and the detention
The former serviceman later left the apartment and fled. The victim was hospitalized in serious condition. Doctors found non-penetrating knife wounds on her body as well as severe chemical burns covering 37% of her skin. She is expected to undergo skin graft operations and a lengthy rehabilitation. Psychologists are also working with her.
The suspect was detained and taken in for questioning. Investigators reportedly seized a knife, a canister containing acid residue, a pistol, and pepper spray from the apartment. The issue of opening a criminal case is now being considered. According to journalists, the man believes he will avoid punishment because he plans to return to the front.
What is known about the motive
According to Ostorozhno, Petersburg and 78 Novosti, jealousy was the motive for the attack. The outlets report that the couple separated a year ago at the woman’s initiative, after which the man began stalking her, threatening her, and trying to persuade her to resume the relationship.
“I believe that any betrayal, any infidelity, should be punished,” Mikhailov told 78 Novosti.