Fire in security building in Rostov-on-Don in Russia

At least one person has been killed and two injured in a fire at a building used by the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) in the southern city of Rostov-on-Don, Russian media report.

Dramatic images posted on social media show a major blaze, with smoke billowing across the city.

The Rostov regional governor said a short circuit appeared to have started the fire, setting the fuel tanks on fire.

The street where the building is located has been closed off.

The fire took place in a building belonging to the FSB’s regional border patrol department in a built-up area of ​​the city.

The FSB is Russia’s internal security agency and is responsible for counterintelligence, border surveillance and counter-terrorism.

Rostov governor Vassily Golubev said the fire had spread over 800 square meters, causing two walls to collapse.

In a statement, the FSB’s public relations office said the fire started around 12:30 a.m. local time (9:30 a.m. GMT). It also confirmed that there had been fatalities, but gave no further details.

Authorities managed to extinguish the fire at 16:00 local time (13:00 GMT), Russian media reported.

The city is the capital of the southern Rostov region, bordering the Donetsk and Luhansk regions of Ukraine, where there is currently heavy fighting in the war.

Since the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, there has been a spate of arson attacks on government buildings in Russia, such as recruitment and conscription offices.

Ukraine denied involvement in the fire.