Russian state news agency RIA Novosti briefly attracted attention with two posts on its Telegram channel claiming that FPV drone operators were launching attacks on Ukrainian territory from a makeshift control center set up in a skyscraper in the business district of Moscow. However, both posts were deleted approximately 90 minutes after they were published.
Attack Details and Location Claims in Deleted Posts
The first post read, “An FPV drone controlled from Moscow struck a Ukrainian Armed Forces target in Chasiv Yar for the first time from a very long range.” The second post stated that the drone, controlled from Moscow, was fired by the Espanola brigade operating near Chasiv Yar in the Bakhmut Region, which is mostly under Russian control.
The posts were accompanied by a six-minute video showing the drone attack in detail. In the video, a soldier who participated in the operation can be heard saying, “The commander hit the target while sitting in Moscow,” after the explosion footage. Another soldier was quoted as saying, “The operator feels safe, there is no psychological pressure,” and emphasizing the advantages of drone warfare.
Espanola Brigade Also Confirms Attack
The Espanola brigade’s own Telegram channel also shared a post about the attack, explaining that the drone in question was used by the brigade commander with the call sign “Spanish.” The brigade said, “Our commander, while living in a rented apartment in Moscow, successfully hit a target near Chasiv Yar using our ‘Ovod’ drone. When using the system, the operator can be positioned anywhere. In our experiment, Moscow was chosen as an easily recognizable location. We believe that it would be better to position this operator closer to the commander and intelligence data in order to shorten the decision-making time.”
The Location of the Skyscraper and the International Law Debate
The Insider found that Espanola’s drone operators were located in a unit of the “Gorod Stolits” (City of Capitals) tower in Moscow. The visual analysis provided details confirming the building’s location. According to the official website of the housing complex, a large part of the area in “Gorod Stolits” includes civilian accommodations such as residential apartments and office space.
RIA Novosti’s post has drawn harsh criticism from pro-war Russian bloggers. Many have questioned the reason for such sensitive information being disclosed. However, international law strictly forbids the use of civilian buildings for military purposes. The Geneva Convention clearly states that civilian objects, such as homes and office buildings, should not be targeted for attack or used to support military operations. RIA Novosti’s deletion of these posts raises questions about the sensitivity of the incident and its potential legal consequences.
