New York Russian Consulate Attacked with Red Paint

In the early morning of the 30th last month (local time), on building walls, stairs, and windows
Perpetrator not caught... "Touching" supportive reactions also received

A man is passing in front of the Russian Consulate in New York, USA, which was attacked with red paint spray in the early morning of the 30th of last month.
Photo by AFP Yonhap News.

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyunjung] The Russian consulate building in New York, USA, was covered in red paint.

According to foreign media such as The New York Times and The Guardian, at around 1:30 a.m. local time on the 30th of last month, the New York Police Department received a report from the Russian consulate about damage to the building. An unknown individual splattered red paint spray not only on the exterior walls of the consulate building but also on the stairs, windows, and floor. The perpetrator has not yet been caught, and no clues indicating the motive or reason for the act were found at the scene.

The Russian consulate, located on East 91st Street in New York, is a vintage stone building, and the area is one of Manhattan’s representative affluent neighborhoods, slightly away from Fifth Avenue. Despite being a clear crime, New Yorkers are interpreting this paint attack as a sign of protest against Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Maria Phillips (39), born in the former Soviet Union and now living in London, said, "I was moved when I saw the consulate building," adding, "This clearly represents the 'blood' that Russia must take responsibility for, as it committed cruel and foolish acts that killed Ukrainians and sent many people to the battlefield."

Neighbor Marina Kovalenko (57) also rushed to the site after seeing photos posted on social media. Having immigrated from Russia to the U.S. 11 years ago, she joked, "Every time I passed by here, I wanted to spray the Russian flag, but I am short and I know that would be a crime," then added, "To me, this act is a work of art, and if the perpetrator is caught, I would like to pay their bail."

The Russian consulate sent an inquiry about the incident to the U.S. Department of State, but the Department did not immediately respond to requests for comment. On the day of the incident, a notice was posted on the consulate door stating that all scheduled activities were canceled.

Meanwhile, just hours after the incident, Russian President Vladimir Putin declared the annexation of four regions: the Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR) and Luhansk People’s Republic (LPR) in eastern Ukraine, as well as the southern Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions.