Built in the late 19th century, Kresty (“The Crosses”) Prison became one of Russia’s most notorious detention sites, housing revolutionaries, political prisoners, and later victims of Stalin’s purges. Thousands are believed to have died within its walls from execution, torture, or disease. Former inmates and guards have long spoken of eerie phenomena: footsteps echoing in deserted corridors, disembodied screams from empty cells, and shadowy figures glimpsed in the barred windows. Paranormal groups report oppressive feelings, sudden cold drafts, and apparitions in the isolation blocks. Though officially decommissioned in 2017, Kresty remains one of St. Petersburg’s most haunted landmarks.