Russian state media publishes, then deletes, report that drone hit FSB building in Belgorod

Russian state media posted and then removed reports that a drone crashed into the Federal Security Service’s (FSB) regional headquarters in the Belgorod region on Wednesday morning.

Information that the building had been struck was first published by the government media outlet TASS and was quickly picked up by numerous local news sites. Citing local emergency officials, TASS said a drone had shattered the building’s windows had damaged its facade. Less than an hour later, however, it deleted the report, and at least six Belgorod news outlets quickly followed.

Novaya Gazeta Europe noted that deleted Telegram posts with the news are still visible on the site TGStat. A translation of the report remains on the English-language version of TASS’s website.

Russian officials reported attacks by over 60 drones in various regions on Tuesday night and Wednesday morning. According to Belgorod Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov, Russian air defense forces shot down at least six drones in the region. He said at least one person was injured and that the attacks damaged residential buildings, a gas supply line, and a power line.