Fire severely damages historic Miller Mansion near St. Isaac's Cathedral in St. Petersburg
A fire broke out at the historic Miller Mansion in central St. Petersburg on the evening of October 1, gutting much of its interior while the building was undergoing restoration. Firefighters have extinguished the blaze, and authorities have opened a criminal probe.
A fire broke out on the evening of October 1 at the historic Miller Mansion in central St. Petersburg, near St. Isaac's Cathedral, local outlet Fontanka reported.
Firefighters have since put out the flames, though emergency crews are still dousing the building's structure with water. Photographs show the blaze nearly destroyed the mansion's interior.
According to Fontanka, the fire may have been caused by unsafe welding work carried out during the building's restoration. Russia's Investigative Committee has opened a criminal case over alleged violations of safety regulations during construction and related work.
A landmark under renovation
The Miller Mansion dates back to the 19th century and is listed as an architectural monument of regional significance.
Earlier in 2026, property developer TAS received a 768-million-ruble loan to restore the building, with plans to convert it into a boutique apartment complex. The restoration had been scheduled for completion in 2027.
