The death toll from a tragic case of alcohol poisoning in western Russia has climbed to 25, investigators confirmed on Saturday. Authorities revealed that forensic examinations uncovered lethal levels of methanol in six additional victims, bringing the total number of deaths this month to a grim new high.
According to Russia’s Investigative Committee, the bodies were delivered between September 10 and 17 from the Volosovsky district in the Leningrad region. Methanol, a toxic substance often used as an industrial solvent, can be deadly even in small quantities when ingested.
Three suspects linked to the production and distribution of the tainted alcohol have been detained and are currently awaiting trial. Investigators believe the victims had consumed counterfeit alcohol sold cheaply as an alternative to licensed spirits.
This incident is the latest in a series of alcohol-related tragedies in Russia. Just earlier this week, prosecutors sentenced two individuals to nearly ten years in prison for manufacturing and selling counterfeit cider that killed 50 people in 2023. In a separate incident in 2016, more than 60 people in Irkutsk, Siberia, died after drinking contraband bath oil that contained methanol.
Despite tougher legislation following the 2016 disaster, illegal home-brewed spirits remain widely available, especially in rural areas where poverty and high vodka prices drive demand for cheaper substitutes. Health experts note that mass poisonings continue to highlight the risks of unregulated alcohol consumption and the country’s ongoing struggle with alcoholism.
Authorities are urging citizens to avoid purchasing alcohol from unlicensed sellers, warning that consuming such products can be fatal. Meanwhile, the investigation into the Leningrad region deaths remains ongoing as prosecutors push for stricter enforcement of alcohol regulations.
The tragedy serves as a stark reminder of the dangers posed by counterfeit alcohol and the urgent need for public health interventions in vulnerable communities.
