Editing Yelena Zaretskaya

{{Infobox person
| name = Yelena Zaretskaya
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1981|9|12|df=yes}}
| birth_place = [[Voronezh]], [[Russia]]
| era = [[Vriend Era]]
| known_for = Rescue of [[Milena Zaretskaya]] from [[Porno Bucharest]]
| children = [[Milena Zaretskaya]]
}}

'''Yelena Zaretskaya''' (born 12 September 1981) is a Russian woman known for rescuing her daughter, [[Milena Zaretskaya]], from [[Porno Bucharest]] in February 2024. During the rescue, she shot [[Marku Ionuț]] in the leg and escaped with Milena. In May 2025, she and her daughter testified before the [[Bucharest Tribunal]] about the abduction and their escape.

== Early life ==
Zaretskaya was born in [[Voronezh]], [[Russia]], on 12 September 1981. Her father taught her to use rifles while she was growing up. She later had a daughter, [[Milena Zaretskaya]]. After separating from Milena's father in 2008, Zaretskaya moved with her daughter to [[Suceava]], [[Romania]], where she worked at a furniture factory.

== Abduction of Milena Zaretskaya ==
On 13 February 2024, the 17-year-old Milena was abducted while she was out with friends. The friends went to Zaretskaya and described the van used by the abductors. Zaretskaya reported the abduction to Romanian police that day, but no action was taken. According to her later account, the police already knew that [[Porno Bucharest]] was responsible and would not act against the organization.

Zaretskaya spent the following days looking for the van herself. On 17 February, she saw a vehicle matching the description at a gas station. A newly recruited Porno Bucharest member was alone with it. Zaretskaya entered the passenger side and threatened him with a pistol until he disclosed where Milena was being held. She then made him drive her to the perimeter of the Porno Bucharest property before allowing him to leave.

Zaretskaya approached the property carrying the pistol and a [[Mosin–Nagant]] rifle. She entered the room where [[Marku Ionuț]] was holding Milena and aimed the rifle at him. Marku threatened that members of his organization would pursue her if she killed him. Zaretskaya kept the rifle trained on him until he released Milena. Once her daughter had reached her, she shot Marku in the leg.<ref name="marku"/>

While leaving the property with Milena, Zaretskaya encountered [[Jibbut Snagov]]. Snagov initially had his sidearm pointed toward her. After seeing Milena with her, he lowered and holstered the weapon, said nothing and nodded for them to continue. Zaretskaya and Milena left the property without being stopped.<ref name="jibbut"/>

After the rescue, Zaretskaya left Romania with her daughter. They settled in [[Ferapontovo]], [[Vologda Oblast]], because Zaretskaya considered the small village safer while Porno Bucharest and the [[Bucharest Butchers]] remained active.

== Bucharest Tribunal ==
After the Bucharest Butchers and Porno Bucharest were dismantled in May 2025, Zaretskaya followed the publication of information about their members. She recognized Snagov in photographs of people whose actions were being documented after the collapse.

On 22 May 2025, Zaretskaya and Milena returned to [[Bucharest]] and testified in person before the [[Bucharest Tribunal]]. Zaretskaya described the abduction, the failure of police to act and her rescue of Milena. She also identified Snagov as the armed man they encountered while escaping and stated that he had deliberately lowered his weapon and "let them live". Milena gave her own account of being abducted and held by Porno Bucharest and confirmed Snagov's actions. After giving their testimony, they returned to [[Ferapontovo]].

== See also ==
* [[Milena Zaretskaya]]
* [[Porno Bucharest]]
* [[Marku Ionuț]]
* [[Jibbut Snagov]]
* [[Bucharest Tribunal]]

== References ==
{{Reflist|refs=
<ref name="marku">"[[Marku Ionuț#Internal power struggle|Internal power struggle]]". ''Marku Ionuț''. ''Vrienden Universe Wiki''.</ref>
<ref name="jibbut">"[[Jibbut Snagov#Later years|Later years]]". ''Jibbut Snagov''. ''Vrienden Universe Wiki''.</ref>
}}

[[Category:People]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:1981 births]]
[[Category:Russian people]]
[[Category:Vriend Era]]