5 (one assessed as serious, four more in a condition of moderate severity)
Perpetrator
Alina Afanaskina
Motive
Unknown
On December 7, 2023, a mass shooting occurred at Bryansk school in Bryansk, Bryansk Oblast, Russia. One student was killed and five others were wounded before the shooter, Alina Afanaskina, committed suicide.[1][2]
A message about a shooting at Gymnasium No. 5 was received by the city dispatch service at 9:15 Moscow time.[1]
Afanaskina hid a Bekas-3 shotgun belonging to her father in a tube and had a knife tucked into her right boot while walking to school.[3][4]
Afanaskina entered a biology classroom on the fourth floor and fired several shots.[4] The shooting resulted in two fatalities, including the perpetrator, and five injuries. One of the injured individuals was in serious condition, while the other four sustained moderate injuries. Following the incident, the remaining students were promptly evacuated, and arrangements were made for them to return home.[5]
Afanaskina had a twin sister who was present in the classroom at the time of the incident.[6] Both sisters arrived at the school together, although investigators have suggested that the twin may not have been aware of Alina's plans.[7]
Investigation
Fourteen-year-old Alina Dmitrievna Afanaskina (Russian: Алина Дмитриевна Афанаскина; born 17 July 2009), an eighth-grade progymnasium student, was identified as the perpetrator of the shooting. The Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation opened a criminal case under Part 2 of Art. 105 Criminal Code of the Russian Federation. Afanaskina had been bullied since elementary school, and had a conflict with students at Bryansk school.[4][8]
Afanaskina's father was detained. He faces correctional labor for up to two years, or compulsory labor for up to 480 hours, or imprisonment for up to two years in accordance with Criminal Code 224.2 of the Russian Federation. He is also charged with Article 110 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (incitement to suicide).[11][12]
On December 9, Larisa Katolikova, deputy director of Gymnasium No. 5, where the shooting took place, was detained.[13] Katolikova was charged under Part 3 of Article 293 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation – negligence that resulted in the death of two or more persons.[14]
Afanaskina's father's trial began in December 2024, and he was acquitted of the charge of driving him to suicide.[15] Afanaskin pleaded not guilty to the charge of negligent possession of a weapon.[16] At the request of the victims, the sessions were closed.[15][17]
According to Mash, the attacker could have been recruited by some “Ukrainian radicals” from an extremist and terrorist group banned in Russia. The eighth-grader allegedly communicated with them in thematic chat room.[18]
On 19 March 2025, Dmitry Afanaskin, the father of the attacker, was sentenced to 1.5 years of correctional labor with 15% of his salary withheld in favor of the state. The court found him guilty of negligent possession of weapons, causing death and injury to minors. The court found that Afanaskin "failed to ensure the safety and security of weapons at his residence".[19]
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