Lyantor Ice Rink Death: Case Sent to Court

Investigators in the Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug have completed their inquiry into the death of a child buried under snow that fell from the roof of an ice rink in Lyantor, and the case has been sent to the Surgut District Court.

The former director and the former chief engineer of the Yunost physical culture and sports centre in Lyantor are named as defendants. Investigators say the pair took no steps to clear the roof after a prolonged snowfall and failed to monitor a hazardous area where snow had been piled against the wall of the building.

On 14 February 2026, a large mass of snow came off the roof of the hockey court. Five children were caught underneath. One child died and another was injured.

Both former officials face charges under Article 293, Part 2 of the Russian Criminal Code — negligence resulting in death by carelessness. The article carries a maximum sentence of five years' imprisonment, or a minimum of five years of forced labour.

A separate case involving snow is under scrutiny elsewhere. On 27 February 2026 in Podolsk, near Moscow, an 11-year-old boy died when heavy machinery clearing the ground brought down a snow tunnel he was playing in.

The Surgut case now moves to trial, where a court will rule on the substance of the negligence charge against the two former officials.