Man Shot Dead After Attacking People at Moscow Church

Sep. 1, 2026 The Church of the Holy Myrrh-Bearing Women. 200hramov.ru An allegedly mentally ill man was shot and killed by a bystander outside a Moscow church after attacking people and badly injuring at least one paramedic with a shovel, Russian media reported Tuesday. Eyewitnesses told state news agencies that the assailant began harassing churchgoers of the Church of the Holy Myrrh-Bearing Women at around 9:50 a.m. Moscow time in the southeastern Maryino district. The 29-year-old initially fled to a nearby park when priests, who purportedly knew the man, called for a psychiatric emergency team, the Kommersant newspaper reported, adding that a regular ambulance arrived instead. “A really young female medic was trying to help when he grabbed a shovel and started striking her on the head,” an eyewitness told the news agency TASS. The medic was reportedly hospitalized in critical condition, while a woman who works at the church and a passerby who tried to defend her were also hurt. Another bystander shot the man when another ambulance team and National Guard troops were sent to detain him, according to Kommersant. The shooter was arrested. Law enforcement sources told TASS that the weapon, a non-lethal rubber bullet firearm, was legally owned. Moscow police told the news outlet Podyom that they had not been informed about the incident. Kommersant reported that the man began regularly attending church after running into financial trouble with his ad agency. He was at some point reportedly diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia and placed on a registry at a local psychiatric facility. Church staff said the man had received regular medication and was usually calm. The publication reported that the man was suffering from depression over the past two weeks and, on the morning of the attack, asked for an ambulance after complaining of hallucinations and “voices in his head.” The Moscow Times was unable to independently verify the reports. Read more about: Moscow , Church Sign up for our free weekly newsletter Our weekly newsletter contains a hand-picked selection of news, features, analysis and more from The Moscow Times. You will receive it in your mailbox every Friday. Never miss the latest news from Russia. Preview Subscribers agree to the Privacy Policy We sent a confirmation to your email. Please confirm your subscription. 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. Once Monthly Annual Continue Not ready to support today? Remind me later. × Remind me next month Remind me Thank you! Your reminder is set. We will send you one reminder email a month from now. For details on the personal data we collect and how it is used, please see our Privacy Policy. Read more Feature A New Church for War Veterans Has Muscovites Struggling to Save Their Park The powerful Russian Orthodox Church's new memorial cathedral is part of an ambitious expansion plan. Despite the odds, locals are uniting against it. 6 Min read Sokol Artists' Village in the Colors of Autumn The Sokol neighborhood of one-story, private houses set in large gardens is a miracle in high-rise Moscow. In Photos: Moscow Scorched By Record Summer Heatwave Staying cool in Russia's capital requires creativity when the temperatures are this high. Moscow Set to Swelter With Arrival of 2016’s Hottest Days Muscovites are set to enjoy scorching summer temperatures until the end of the week, Russia’s Weather Center chief Roman Vilfand announced Monday.The...