March 22, 2026

Siberian farmer threatens to set himself on fire if his livestock are euthanized

Farmer Petr Polozhaev from the village of Chernokurye in the Novosibirsk region doused himself with gasoline and threatened to commit self-immolation if his livestock were destroyed. This was reported by Daria Mironenko, a resident of the village of Kozikha. Yesterday evening, veterinarians and police arrived at the Polozhaev family's home to euthanize the livestock. The head of the family climbed onto the roof of a barn, doused himself with gasoline, and threatened to set himself on fire: "I am Petr Polozhaev. I have been farming for 35 years. Yesterday, they came to destroy my livestock. I doused myself with gasoline, the equipment turned around and left. I am expecting them again today. March 22nd. It's almost lunchtime, they should arrive again. If they destroy my livestock, I will be left without a livelihood. I will have to burn myself after all," the man said on video. According to the family, their livestock is vaccinated and healthy. The authorities have not shown any documents indicating animal diseases. The governor of the Novosibirsk region stated today that "no new cases of pasteurellosis have been recorded in the region for seventeen days," but to stabilize the situation, it is necessary to "strictly implement all quarantine measures, including the seizure of infected livestock."