Tula Governor Defends Child After Local Officials Threaten Criminal Charges Over Playground Drawings

Aug. 20, 2026 Drawings made by a young girl in the town of Bolokhovo, Tula region. vk.сom The governor of central Russia’s Tula region has come to the defense of a young girl after local officials threatened criminal prosecution over artwork she drew onto a city playground earlier this week. In a post on the VKontakte social media platform, authorities in the town of Bolokhovo said they had filed a police complaint after identifying a child who drew characters from a popular animated series onto the rubber safety surface of a newly renovated playground. Officials threatened to pursue criminal charges against the girl and her parents for vandalism and property destruction unless they voluntarily removed the drawings. “This surface is designed for children’s safety, not artistic expression,” the VKontakte post read. “Damaging public property is an offense for which you will be held legally accountable.” The threat of legal action triggered public backlash online. Tula region Governor Dmitry Milyaev joined the criticism, demanding that local officials “leave the child alone” and accusing them of “pushing things to the point of absurdity.” “Instead of scaring a child over a creative spark, we should help them nurture their talent,” Milyaev wrote in a post on Telegram. “We will certainly make sure to channel the local authorities’ enthusiasm in the right direction.” Read more about: Tula , Children , Regions 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 Police Arrest Chief Physician and Intensive Care Head at Siberian Hospital Where Newborns Died Prosecutors charged the two hospital employees with negligence resulting in death and said an investigation was underway. 2 Min read Feature Their Fathers Fighting in Ukraine, Some of Russia’s Military Children Fall Into a Broken Orphanage System Local officials describe families left in poverty, children shuffled between relatives and institutions and widows navigating a complex bureaucracy. 5 Min read Feature Russian Students Start School Year Marked by Surveillance, War Veterans and Anti-Migrant Measures Students going back to school will find their classrooms transformed once again by the war in Ukraine. 6 Min read Putin Appoints 5 New Regional Governors The former regional heads were promoted to federal office earlier this week as part of a wider government reshuffle. 2 Min read