In the heart of the Moscow Metro, at Mendeléyevskaya station, a bronze sculpture stops passersby with its sorrowful and noble gaze. It is Compassion (Сочувствие), a monument erected in honor of a stray dog named Malchik (meaning “boy” in Russian), whose tragic death sparked a wave of outrage and empathy throughout Russia.
The Metro’s Friend
For nearly three years, Malchik —a black mixed-breed dog— lived in the corridors of Mendeléyevskaya station on the Serpukhovsko-Timiryazevskaya line of the Moscow Metro. He was more than a stray: he had become part of the place. Metro workers, nearby shopkeepers, and commuters fed and cared for him. In return, Malchik offered companionship and a sense of security. As many witnesses recall, he helped keep other dogs away and would alert people to unusual activity. However, he was also known to be aggressive toward other dogs.
The Attack That Changed Everything
Malchik’s life came to a brutal end in December 2001. A 22-year-old woman named Yuliana Romanova was descending into the metro accompanied by her Staffordshire Terrier. Upon encountering Malchik sleeping in the corridor, Romanova incited a fight between the dogs. When Malchik reacted, she took a knife from her bag and stabbed him six times. A nearby kiosk vendor tried to intervene, but it was too late. Malchik was dead by the time emergency services arrived.
The police failed to act immediately, and Romanova walked away. The story could have gone unnoticed, but journalist Irina Ozernaya from the newspaper Izvestia decided to investigate. She was the one who identified Romanova, a young model, as the attacker. In an interview, Romanova expressed regret but remained distant: “It doesn’t matter anymore. I’m going to work in Spain. I hope to forget all this.”
Justice and Memory
The investigation uncovered a disturbing past: Romanova had been diagnosed with schizophrenia at age six and had previously abused dogs owned by her or her family. Public outrage and media pressure eventually forced authorities to act. A year after the incident, a criminal case was opened. Romanova was found guilty of animal cruelty and committed to a psychiatric facility for one year. Her current whereabouts remain unknown.
Malchik’s story was not forgotten. On the contrary, he became a symbol of the fight for animal rights. Thanks to efforts from public figures such as artist Elena Kamburova and the Moscow Metro’s board of trustees, the idea of a monument in Malchik’s memory was supported, calling for a more compassionate attitude toward homeless animals.
The Monument: A Symbol of Compassion
Thanks to donations from Russian citizens and people abroad —including famous actors and musicians— an artistic team led by sculptor Alexander Tsigal, artist Sergey Tsigal, and architect Andrey Nalich brought the monument to life.
The statue was unveiled in February 2007 in the upper vestibule of Mendeléyevskaya station, at the very spot where Malchik lost his life. The sculpture depicts the dog in a resting position, with a peaceful yet melancholic expression. An inscription at the base reads: “Dedicated to the humane treatment of homeless animals.”
Today, thousands of commuters stop to gently touch Malchik’s bronze head or place flowers at his pedestal. Сочувствие (Sochustvye) not only honors the memory of a dog who found a home in the metro, but also reminds an entire city of the need to show compassion toward the most vulnerable.