A major blaze broke out on Thursday in the historic Miller Palace in central St Petersburg, at 3 St Isaac’s Square, opposite the well-known St Isaac’s Cathedral. The fire was reported at 20:11 local time, as stated by the Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations.
The building in question is a 18th-century structure, specifically from the second half of that century, which was thoroughly renovated in 1879 and 1880 according to the project by architect Ferdinand Miller. The fire engulfed all floors of the four-storey building. From an initial 450 square metres, it quickly spread to more than 2,000 square metres, prompting authorities to raise the alert level to the third level. 125 firefighters and 25 units of equipment are involved in the operation, with emergency services warning that the fire poses a threat to adjacent buildings. There are no injuries or fatalities reported.
Authorities have immediately launched an investigation into the fire, with the prosecutor’s office of the Admiralteysky district overseeing the inquiry. The exact cause will be known following the completion of expert fire safety and technical assessments. There are currently no specific details linking the fire in St Petersburg to President Putin’s speech or any deliberate action.
The fire broke out while Russian President Vladimir Putin was participating in the annual meeting of the Valdai Discussion Club in Moscow, where he delivered a speech and answered questions from journalists. His address and the discussion with the audience were still ongoing, while he was not in St Petersburg. At Valdai, Putin spoke about the war in Ukraine, Russia’s relations with the West, and the security situation in Europe, reiterating warnings that Russia might use all means at its disposal in the event of a direct attack on its territory.
The Miller Palace is part of a complex of buildings listed as cultural heritage of regional importance. The facades of the palace and the residential building on St Isaac’s Square, designed in an eclectic style with elements of the Italian Renaissance, have retained their original appearance from the 1879 reconstruction. The building has maintained its residential purpose to the present day.
The fire has caused significant traffic disruptions in central St Petersburg. Due to the intervention of firefighters, major traffic jams have formed around St Isaac’s Square and the surrounding streets.
