A power outage in Volgodonsk has resulted in criminal charges.

Investigators have opened a criminal case in connection with the prolonged heat outage in Volgodonsk. Following a heating main breakdown, residents of 80 apartment buildings were left without heat for more than a day.

In Volgodonsk, following a procedural investigation, a criminal case has been opened under Part 1 of Article 238 of the Russian Criminal Code (provision of services that do not meet consumer health and safety requirements) in connection with a heating main rupture, the regional Investigative Committee reported on January 30.

"According to the investigation, on January 28, 2026, due to improper maintenance of the supply section of the heating main of an intra-block pipeline at the intersection of Mira Avenue and Marshal Koshevoy Street in Volgodonsk, a rupture occurred, leading to the shutdown of hot water supply and heating to apartment buildings and social facilities," the publication states.

Investigators are investigating the circumstances of the incident and the identity of those involved. "As part of the investigation, documents of interest to the investigators are being seized from the city administration and the utility company," the agency reported.

On the evening of January 28, 80 apartment buildings in Volgodonsk were left without heat due to a power failure, 161.ru reported on January 29.

According to the regional Minister of Housing and Public Utilities, Antonina Pshenichnaya, the accident occurred on a large-diameter heating main at the intersection of Mira Avenue and Mikhail Koshevoy Street. The heat was initially expected to be turned on by 6:00 a.m. Moscow time on January 29, but the deadline was later pushed back to 8:00 p.m. Moscow time on January 29.

"Continuous work continued all night to pump water out of the heating manifold. By 7:00 a.m., the pumping was completed, and specialists localized and identified the damaged section of the heating main. Specialists are doing everything possible to restore heat supply as quickly as possible," the publication quoted the official as saying on the morning of January 29.

However, repair work after the accident was not completed until the morning of January 30, Governor Yuri Slyusar reported on his Telegram channel.

"Emergency crews worked all night. The necessary work has been completed in full. Specialists have now reported that circulation has been restored." "The coolant in the heating system has been gradually filled and air has been removed from the system; the coolant parameters in the main circuit comply with the standard; the phased connection of apartment buildings and social facilities is underway, taking into account technological requirements; heat will reach every home within the next three hours," he wrote at 6:24 a.m. Moscow time on January 30.

"Caucasian Knot" also wrote that on January 28, investigators in the Rostov Region reported the beginning of an investigation into criminal cases under articles on negligence and the provision of unsafe services in connection with the prolonged lack of water supply to homes of residents of Gukovo, Zverevo, and several villages. Investigators stated that officials failed to ensure the emergency was addressed promptly and allowed water delivery irregularities.

Residents of Gukovo and Zverevo complained on January 21 that their homes had been without water since January 16. Residents said they were forced to melt snow and buy water. Authorities, reporting on the progress of the emergency response, stated that water supply had been restored, but the water was not reaching the upper floors of buildings.

In Dagestan, unresolved housing and utilities issues are a factor in the growth of protest activity, Sergei Bachurin, head of the North Caucasus Federal District Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, stated on January 19.

Residents of the capital of Dagestan previously held a spontaneous protest due to the lack of power in their homes; this occurred in August 2025. The mayor's office subsequently reported that power had been restored to most homes. Residents of other districts of Makhachkala also complained of similar problems. However, Dagestani officials focused on the fact that calls for mass protests against power outages were spreading on social media, and threatened liability for unauthorized protests.