Abandoned Zsar shopping centre attracts unauthorised visitors in Virolahti

Unauthorised visitors have been entering the long-vacant Zsar shopping centre in Virolahti, with videos of the site circulating on social media, Yle reports.

The bankrupt estate managing the property condemns the trespassing but has not filed a police report. According to estate administrator Matti Manner, the area is under surveillance, and there is no evidence of vandalism. However, entering the premises without permission remains prohibited.

The shopping centre, located near Finland’s eastern border, has stood empty for nearly four years. Videos posted on TikTok and YouTube in August and September 2023 show individuals moving inside the gated complex and filming within one of the commercial spaces. One clip depicts a person sitting on a throne-like chair inside the abandoned building.

Manner confirmed that while the activity is “inappropriate and unauthorised,” there have been no reports of property damage. A Yle reporter visiting the site last Thursday observed no visible signs of vandalism on the exterior.

The sale of the shopping centre, which filed for bankruptcy in late 2022 after losing its primary customer base—Russian shoppers—due to the pandemic and the war in Ukraine, has faced repeated delays. Though creditors approved a purchase offer in November, tax-related clarifications have stalled the finalisation.

In mid-December, Helsingin Sanomat reported that Datatriumnord, a Finnish company owned by Russian billionaire Viktor Ignatyev, intended to buy Zsar. Current zoning laws restrict the site to tourism-supporting businesses, complicating potential redevelopment, such as a data centre. Yle later found that Ignatyev has business ties to oligarch Gennady Timchenko, a close associate of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The bankrupt estate continues to maintain the property, with heating operational and regular upkeep. Security patrols and camera surveillance are in place, though Kaakkois-Suomen police confirm no trespassing reports have been filed.

Urban exploration, or “urbex,” has gained traction on social media, with enthusiasts documenting abandoned structures. While practitioners describe their visits as peaceful, Finnish law classifies unauthorised entry as a breach of public order, punishable by fines or up to six months in prison.