Airports are places of reunions, farewells, and the hum of anticipation.

But for one family, a routine arrival at the airport turned into a nightmare that’s left the world reeling—and a little boy fighting for his life.

The shocking incident unfolded in the arrivals hall, where 18-month-old Yazdan and his mother, Hajizada Sahar, had just landed after a harrowing escape from war-torn Iran.

Their journey, meant to bring them to safety, instead collided with a moment of senseless violence that has horrified people across the globe.

A random act of violence—and a chilling confession​

Security footage captured the unthinkable: a man, later identified as 31-year-old Vladimir Vitkov from Belarus, calmly approaches the toddler, looks him over, and—without warning—picks him up and hurls him headfirst onto the hard airport floor.

The brutality of the act is matched only by its randomness.



When questioned by police, Vitkov’s confession was as chilling as the act itself. “I attempted to murder a child,” he admitted, stating that he had no motive other than being under the influence of drugs.

Reports indicate that Vitkov had consumed three bottles of whisky and used cannabis before the attack. Traces of the drug were detected in his system, and he was also found carrying it at the time of the arrest.

A troubled past and a fateful journey​

Vitkov’s journey to Moscow was itself the result of personal turmoil. He had recently been fired from a nuclear power plant construction job in Egypt after failing a drug and alcohol test.

According to friends, he was once a valued foreman, but his substance abuse led to his dismissal and subsequent return home via Moscow.



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The randomness of his attack is perhaps the most terrifying aspect. Vitkov did not know Yazdan or his mother. He selected the child randomly, which has shaken many parents and travelers.

The Moscow region’s children’s ombudswoman, Ksenia Mishonova, did not mince words, calling Vitkov a “drug-addled monster” and demanding the harshest punishment possible.

A family’s nightmare—and a community’s outrage​

For Yazdan’s mother, the ordeal is almost too much to bear. Having fled the bombings in Iran, she arrived in Russia seeking safety, only to have her son become the victim of a senseless act of violence.

In the aftermath, she has been left clinging to hope, repeatedly asking doctors if her son will recover. Dr. Tatyana Shapovalenko, chief doctor at a children's center, described Yazdan’s injuries in stark terms: “He has an open fracture of the skull bones, a fracture of the base and vault of the skull, a subdural hematoma.”

Miraculously, the child’s brain was not damaged, and he has since been brought out of a medically induced coma as doctors continue to assess his condition.



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This incident has sparked outrage and soul-searching far beyond Russia. It raises pressing concerns surrounding airport security, the serious risks of substance abuse, and the need for accountability.

Yazdan’s family had already endured so much, only to be confronted with a new, random act of violence in a place that should have been safe. As the legal process unfolds, many call for Vitkov to face the full weight of the law.

The ombudswoman’s call for “hard labor until he is feeble with old age” reflects the depth of public anger and the desire for justice.


This extreme case is a sobering reminder that public spaces are not always as safe as everyone likes to believe. For those who travel, especially with children or grandchildren, vigilance is key.

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Have you ever witnessed or experienced a random act of violence? How do you stay vigilant when traveling? What do you think should be done to prevent tragedies like this in the future?