Ahead of Russia Day, Sergey Boytсov, professional extreme athlete, BASE jumper, multiple world record holder, member of the Russian Aeronautical Sports Federation, and CEO of Sozdan Nebesami (Created by Heaven), performed a unique stunt in Moscow. The athlete parachuted from the 338-meter-high Mercury Tower in Moscow City.
The jump was dedicated to Russia Day and the upcoming International Festival of Youth 2026, held as part of the national Youth and Children project. It went down in history as the first official BASE jump from a building in Russia involving a smoke flare. For the record holder, the stunt was more than just an adrenaline rush. It was his statement. Sergey Boytcov explained that he wanted to highlight the importance of striving for new achievements and following one’s dreams through this jump. These are the values that lie at the heart of the upcoming Festival in Ekaterinburg.
“For me, every jump is an opportunity to go beyond the familiar and prove that anything is possible when you believe in your goal and work persistently toward it. Qualities such as courage, dedication, discipline, mutual support, and teamwork have always distinguished our country and its people. We dedicated this jump to Russia Day, a celebration of a nation renowned for its strong, brave, and determined people. I am convinced that belief in a common goal, mutual support, hard work, and team spirit are what help us achieve the most ambitious results and set world records. Only through unity, trust, and the understanding that we are one team can we accomplish what seems impossible. I also deeply connect with the philosophy of the International Festival of Youth and its motto, ‘Follow Your Dream.’ Young people around the world are united by a desire to grow, explore new horizons, and change the world around them. I hope this project will inspire young people not to be afraid of setting ambitious goals and moving forward,” said multiple world record holder Sergey Boytcov.
The choice of location was no coincidence. Mercury is the planet closest to the Sun. It is hot during the day and freezes at night. This cosmic contrast served as a metaphor for preparing for the record attempt, blending the fiery courage of the cosmos with the cold precision of engineering calculations.
The preparation for the jump took two weeks. The athlete completed a series of training sessions involving jumping from airplanes and a hot-air balloon. The athlete also studied aerology and tested parachuting equipment and a special tracking suit. The tower’s architecture posed the main challenge. Because of the building's stepped design, only two vertical sections were suitable for a free fall between 338.8 and 200 meters. The dense development of Moscow City left only one safe flight corridor. Success depended on meticulous weather analysis, understanding wind patterns at different altitudes, and flawless piloting skills. Accessing the roof required special attention. The project relied on the assistance of the building’s management company and industrial climbers. Vladimir Murzaev, a master of sport in mountaineering, personally secured the athlete before the jump. To minimize risks, the start time was scheduled for 4:30, at dawn, when winds are calmer and there are no passersby. The descent path passed directly beneath a black glass dome, which visually distorted the perception of the approaching ground and added to the complexity. This optical effect was also factored into the calculations.
At 4:15, Sergey Boytcov unfurled the Russian tricolor, standing at an altitude of 338.8 meters. At 4:30, he leapt from the tower after activating colored smoke. He continued to freefall until reaching a critical altitude of 100 meters (approximately the level of the 22nd floor of a 75-story building), at which point he deployed a parachute canopy designed in the colors of the national flag. Due to strict safety measures, no spectators were allowed on site. The first person to congratulate the athlete upon landing was a traffic police officer who had been securing the location. He shook Boytcov’s hand and said, “Congratulations, bro, you nailed it!”
The jump from the Mercury Tower marked an important milestone. The tower’s space-themed name symbolizes reaching new heights. Sergey Boytcov’s next goal is to jump from the edge of space. He plans to set a world record by parachuting from a hot-air balloon at an altitude of 11–12 kilometers. He intends to dedicate this achievement to the International Festival of Youth.
Overview:
Sergey Boytcov is one of Russia’s most prominent athletes in extreme parachuting sports. In 2024, he became the first person to make a prolonged BASE jump from the 87th floor of the Lakhta Center in St. Petersburg, Europe’s tallest building. He has been actively involved in developing extreme sports and promoting an active lifestyle among young people for many years.
The International Festival of Youth will take place in Ekaterinburg from September 11 to 17, 2026. The event will bring together 10,000 young leaders, entrepreneurs, scientists, athletes, and representatives of creative industries and public organizations from 190 countries. The Festival will serve as a major international platform for dialogue, exchange of experiences, and collaborative efforts to address global challenges. The International Festival of Youth 2026 is organized by the Federal Agency for Youth Affairs (Rosmolodezh) and the Government of the Sverdlovsk Region and operated by the World Youth Festival Directorate.