Russian influencer investigated after vacuum-sealing 10-year-old son for ‘fun’

A Russian social media influencer is under police investigation after posting a video showing her 10-year-old son being placed inside an industrial vacuum-sealed bag, an act that sparked widespread condemnation online and raised concerns over child safety.

The blogger, identified by Russian media as 36-year-old Anna Saparina, allegedly filmed the stunt to attract online attention.

In the video, the boy is seen sealed inside the bag as air is removed, before crying out in distress within seconds. The footage was later shared as humorous content on her account, prompting a strong backlash from viewers who accused her of endangering a child’s life.

As the controversy spread, police in Russia’s Saratov region launched an investigation after reviewing the video.

A police official said, “The video may show illegal acts committed against a minor son,” adding that authorities are working to identify the woman’s whereabouts to determine the circumstances of the incident.

Russian authorities are reviewing whether to take legal action and plan to conduct an assessment through child protection agencies.

Russian state media also criticized the video. Broadcaster NTV described the incident as “playing dangerous pranks with a child for fun,” reporting that “many netizens immediately demanded an investigation into the family.”

Following reports of the investigation, Saparina removed the video from her account. However, several of her previous controversial posts had already accumulated millions of views. Russian official media outlets condemned the behavior as an act that “disregards safety in pursuit of online attention.”

The case remains under further review as authorities continue their investigation.