From a student at Samara Aerospace University. Koroleva becomes a “terrorist”

Maria Stroganova studied mathematics and 3D printing at the University of Samara, studied mobile application design in an online project for teenagers, and was engaged in creativity. Now she faces up to 20 years in prison on charges of committing a terrorist attack. Let's tell her story.

“I studied at Samara State Aerospace University named after. S.P. Koroleva: first she studied mathematics in mathematics and mechanical engineering, then she switched to becoming a 3D printing engineer. She was a member of the IDEU trade union bureau (Institute of Engines and Power Plants, a division of Samara University named after Korolev - Ed.) . I joined the trade union bureau for interest, new acquaintances and friends. I am not a very active person, but I wanted to live an extracurricular student life. There I was a first class trade unionist.

Typically, trade unionists sign documents and help solve problems if students’ rights are violated. Unfortunately, I only studied for six months, because in December this story happened with scammers and I ended up in the PFRSI (Premises functioning as a pre-trial detention center - Ed. note) . Yes, life just turned upside down. Of course, I am not discouraged, but when you start to think about the fact that I am considered a “particularly dangerous criminal,” it becomes very sad. You know, before I was detained, I was thinking that I wanted to go on vacation so that I could devote more time to my creativity and reading. I think we need to formulate our desires more precisely,” writes Maria Stroganova.

Photo: Maria Stroganova at an open meeting of the ISEU Trade Union Bureau in October 2025
Source : “Trade Bureau of IDEU (Samara University)”

According to information on the website of the Samara State Aerospace University, Stroganova entered the budget department in 2024. Her name is in the order “on the provision of beds in student dormitories” for first-year students at the natural science institute. This is probably a shortened name for the Institute of Natural and Mathematical Sciences , which includes the Faculty of Mechanics and Mathematics. In 2025, Stroganova was also included in the order to provide places in a dormitory, but as a first-year student who entered (also in a free department) the Institute of Power Plant Engines. They study, among other things, “Digital and additive technologies,” that is, 3D printing technologies.

Photo: Maria Stroganova at a meeting with students enrolled in IDEU in August 2025
Source : Institute of Engines and Power Plants / Ksenia Pototskaya

On social networks, Stroganova often mentioned the Puzzle & Code project: “This is a project that allows teenagers to receive free programming and design training. I studied to be a web designer, designed websites and mobile applications. I studied in the 3rd year. I really loved this project for the classes with great teachers and the support of caring curators.”

Photo: Maria Stroganova / social networks

According to Maria, she is accused of committing arson on the instructions of scammers (Article 205 of the Criminal Code “Terrorist Act”, up to 20 years in prison). The girl was detained on December 17, 2025, and two days later she was taken into custody. At the same time, the First Department was unable to find a case file on the selection of a preventive measure on the website of the Samara courts.

“The detention went very calmly. There were no threats or violence from employees. They showed me the text of the article of the Criminal Code under which I am accused. But I was so tired that I didn’t understand anything. For me it was just a text, the essence of which I could not understand.

I won’t be able to tell you what exactly the scammers told me, but I will say this: they played on a sense of patriotism and responsibility. Plus the state of stress and anxiety into which they drove me. During those three days, I practically did not sleep, and if I slept, I had nightmares about what was happening. It is easy to control a person in such a state. I thought about almost nothing, my head was in a fog and I couldn’t realize what I was doing. Now, analyzing all this, I understand that I was treated this way, but then I did not understand it. Probably, if I had watched more news, I would have known about such cases and, perhaps, would not have fallen for their trick, I would have stopped in time.”

Photo: drawings from letters to Maria Stroganova

Stroganova is afraid to tell details due to censorship of letters. She says she doesn't understand why the arson is considered "terrorism" because she had no motive to "intimidate or harm anyone." Now she is in the PFRSI at IK-15 of Samara in the same cell with Anastasia Ivakhnenko and Ksenia Utkina , who are accused of committing arson of cell phone towers. Previously, political prisoners Valentina Tagirova and Polina Yevtushenko were neighbors of some of them.

Photo: letter from Maria Stroganova

“I get up at 6:00, lights out at 22. I read the classics, analyze them, draw, do a little sports (on my own initiative, no one forces), solve mathematics - I would like to go deeper into it and study mathematical analysis, topology, discrete mathematics. Now my family supports me. Even though I am from an orphanage, I have them. I haven’t heard from my friends yet and it’s unlikely that I will.”