The blogger's video from Mamayev Kurgan became the reason for an investigation under the article on the rehabilitation of Nazism.

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The head of the Investigative Committee of Russia, Alexander Bastrykin, demanded a report on the progress of the investigation into the actions of Astrakhan blogger Svyatoslav Kovalenko, who filmed a video at Mamayev Kurgan that drew criticism from some citizens. The blogger himself believes he did nothing provocative.

Astrakhan blogger Svyatoslav Kovalenko published a video on his social media where he throws a five-thousand-ruble bill into the water at the sculpture "Stand to the Death" at Mamayev Kurgan in Volgograd. "As they say, wishes come true. I made a wish. Usually, people throw coins here, I decided to throw 5000 rubles, here it is," he stated.

He then stepped aside and began filming people's reactions to the bill in the water. Several people of different ages tried to retrieve it, but to no avail. Eventually, a man approached the pool, took off his shoes, and jumped in after the bill.

Kovalenko's actions, who positions himself on social media as a "sports blogger, fighter, philanthropist, businessman, developer," were condemned by some residents of Volgograd. Commenting on the situation, particularly in the Telegram channel v1.ru, they noted that not only the blogger's actions are sacrilegious, but also any entertainment activities on the territory of the memorial complex.

"Do not touch the sacred with dirty hands and thoughts. Do not arrange light shows, sports events, vulgar video shoots, shows of greed, etc., there for your personal image, hype, or popularity. I have made sharp statements about light shows more than once. Including so that there are no imitators of this dubious fame. The blogger and the diver should be held accountable under the article 'Violation of public order, insulting morality and demonstrating disrespect for the memory of the heroes of the Great Patriotic War,'" said an unnamed commentator.

"As for coins (coins are thrown into the bowls of fountains, bowls filled with water in memorial places): they are thrown as if to return to this place someday. This is a tradition, I don't know when and by whom it was invented. Everything else is hype, mockery, but nowhere is it written that this is punishable. There are simply things that a person should not do, they cannot be written into laws, they must be in a person's heart," said another commentator.

"This was a test of boorishness! Who is the doctor for those who failed it!? For 1 ruble, they would climb over each other, but here it's 5k!" - believes Larisa Prikhodko. "Did this 'bloher' really want to demonstrate this? Did it have to be done at Mamayev?" - responds Nancy.

"He threw it and that was it, did people need to be driven there with a stick? It's good that they didn't beat each other for a free five, apparently, the police intervened in time," thinks another anonymous commenter. "Are concerts and dances by the administration different???" - wonders Ordinary Citizen.

Kovalenko himself, commenting on the situation, stated that he had no intention of filming pranks. "I had no intention of filming any pranks or experiments at this sacred place. When I come to my hometown, I always visit Mamayev Kurgan, it is a place of power for me, as is the hero city of Stalingrad in general. Therefore, I ask not to inflate this topic. I have never hyped on patriotism and especially on such sacred things. If I offended anyone with this act, I apologize," the publication quotes his comment.

Nevertheless, Kovalenko's video attracted the attention of the head of the Investigative Committee of Russia, Alexander Bastrykin. He demanded a report on the progress of the procedural check of the blogger's actions under part 4 of article 354.1 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (rehabilitation of Nazism), writes "Vysota 102" on July 28.

The police were also interested in the video, which is also conducting an investigation. Kovalenko's actions may be classified as violating public order.

The blogger also commented on the information about the investigations. He stated that it is a normal phenomenon, "when something is checked in the wake of a resonance." But he added that there was nothing in his actions that he was afraid of. "The check will pass, everything will fall into place," he added. He deleted the video from his social media.

Earlier, "Caucasian Knot" reported that in October 2024, trash streamer Vera Egorenkova from Oryol spat at the image of the monument "Motherland Calls!" in Volgograd during one of her streams and hit it with a cloth. She was accused of desecrating symbols of Russian military glory.

In the summer of 2023, a blogger from Samara, Alena Agafonova, filmed a video at Mamayev Kurgan. In the video, the girl pretends to touch the breast of the sculpture "Motherland Calls!" with her finger while laughing, and then falls onto the grass at the foot of the monument. Agafonova later apologized. She was arrested on charges of desecrating a symbol of military glory. The court sentenced her to 10 months of forced labor.

Recall that the remains of 34,505 defenders of Stalingrad rest at Mamayev Kurgan. There are also 35 granite tombstones of Heroes of the Soviet Union who participated in the defense of the city, according to the "Caucasian Knot" reference on "Mamayev Kurgan and the sculpture 'Motherland Calls!'".

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