Alyona Kazinskaya, a Russian artist known for her vibrant social media presence filled with cheerful messages and floral paintings, found herself in the midst of a nightmare when she attended a concert near Moscow last Friday night. Alongside a friend, Kazinskaya had purchased last-minute tickets to see the Soviet-era rock group “Picnic” perform in front of a crowd of 6,200 people at a concert hall. Little did they know, the evening would turn into a harrowing ordeal.
As the concert commenced, at 8:01 p.m., Kazinskaya’s social media feed took a drastic turn. She posted a frantic 10-second audio message on her Telegram channel, capturing the chilling sounds of gunfire erupting within the venue. “I love you all. I’m in Crocus City Hall – Picnic. They’re shooting here, at the concert. I’m in the hall. Call the police,” she pleaded.
Amidst the chaos, Kazinskaya and her friend found themselves trapped as gunmen armed with Kalashnikov rifles unleashed terror upon the unsuspecting crowd. Despite attempts to guide others to safety, they were unable to escape the onslaught. Kazinskaya vividly recalls the moment when realization struck that they were not witnessing special effects but a genuine threat to their lives.
In a desperate bid for survival, Kazinskaya resorted to sharing distress messages on her Telegram channel, hoping that someone would heed her call for help. As the minutes passed, the situation grew increasingly dire. Gunfire gave way to flames as the assailants set fire to the concert hall using gasoline. Forced to seek refuge in a restroom engulfed in smoke, Kazinskaya faced the grim reality of impending danger.
With each passing moment, Kazinskaya grappled with the possibility of never making it out alive. In what she believed could be her final communication, she left a poignant goodbye message before continuing to navigate the treacherous environment with her friend. Eventually, they found an opportunity to escape, albeit with injuries and trauma that would linger long after the ordeal ended.
Returning home safely, Kazinskaya found solace in the embrace of loved ones but acknowledged the profound impact the experience had left on her. She expressed reluctance towards attending large events in the future, emphasizing the need for kindness and solidarity within society, especially during times of adversity.
As Kazinskaya recounts her harrowing experience, her story serves as a sobering reminder of the fragility of life and the resilience of the human spirit in the face of unimaginable tragedy.
