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Russian Consulate in New York vandalized with red paint in possible bias incident, police say

  • The Russian Consulate in New York City was vandalized with red spray paint early Friday, police said.
  • The New York Police Department is investigating the vandalism as a possible bias incident, said a spokesman.
  • The incident came just hours before Russian President Vladimir Putin signed decrees to annex four Ukrainian regions.

The Russian Consulate in New York City was vandalized with red spray paint early Friday in a possible bias incident, a spokesman for the New York Police Department told Insider. 

Authorities received a 911 call about the incident at around 1:30 a.m. on Friday and discovered that the facade of the consulate on Manhattan’s Upper East Side had been doused with red paint, the police spokesman said. 

Two people wearing black masks, dressed in black clothing, with backpacks were captured on surveillance footage vandalizing the building, according to the spokesman. 

The NYPD is investigating the vandalism as a possible bias incident, the spokesman said.

The Russian Consulate could not immediately be reached for comment by Insider. 

The incident came just hours before Russian President Vladimir Putin signed decrees to annex four Ukrainian regions amid his seven-month war with Ukraine.

In a speech on Friday, Putin said that the regions were now part of Russia. 

Ukraine and Western nations have rejected the move by Putin. 

This story is developing. Please check back for updates.