A military court in St. Petersburg has sentenced Diana Chistyakova to 12 years in prison after she was manipulated by Ukrainian operatives into attempting an arson attack on a police facility.
The true crime podcaster, 30, who studied criminology at Herzen University before launching her YouTube podcast focused on criminal psychology and high-profile cases, was targeted by a scam that has become increasingly prevalent in Russia. According to her testimony, Chistyakova was tricked into transferring savings under false pretenses that the money supported the Ukrainian military. Scammers then convinced her she was under investigation for terrorism-related offenses and could avoid prosecution by carrying out a “covert operation.”
Authorities reported that Chistyakova prepared Molotov cocktails to attack vehicles of a police unit responsible for transporting suspects to court hearings. She was apprehended while attempting her third firebomb, having failed to damage the target with the first two. The incident has drawn particular attention given Chistyakova’s background in criminal law and her role as an expert on crime. Russian authorities have condemned the Ukrainian military for its involvement in orchestrating these scams as part of efforts to undermine domestic security within Russia.
