Dmitry Sipyagin served as Minister of Interior under Tsar Nicholas II, where he was known for his strong stance against revolutionary activities and political dissent. On the day of his assassination in the Mariinsky Palace, he was engaged in regular state affairs when he was approached by an assailant identified as a member of the Socialist Revolutionary Party, a group opposing the autocratic rule of the Tsar. The assassin produced a revolver and shot Sipyagin at close range, resulting in his immediate death. Following the shooting, the assassin was quickly subdued and arrested by palace guards.

This incident not only marks the violent lengths to which political groups were resorting to in their fight against state oppression but also illustrates the mounting tensions within Russian society at the turn of the century. Increasingly frustrated by the autocratic rule and the conditions in which they lived, various revolutionary factions, including the Socialists, were feeling emboldened to take extreme measures to overturn the established order. The assassination of Sipyagin became emblematic of the fragility of the imperial government, revealing how political discontent could manifest in deadly confrontations.

The impact of Sipyagin's assassination was felt broadly across the Russian political landscape. After his death, there was an intensified crackdown on political dissidents and revolutionary groups. The state responded with further repression, seeking to eradicate those labeled as threats to the stability of the Empire. Over the following years, these actions contributed to the growing unrest that would eventually lead to the Russian Revolution and significant changes in the country's governance. The assassination serves as a pivotal moment in understanding the political climate of Russia pre-1917 and the escalating violence and repression that characterized it.