Outdated Photo of Beirut Port Silos Shared as Recent Attack on Ukraine’s SBU

Misbar investigated the circulating photo and found the claim to be misleading.

A thorough reverse image search revealed the photo making the rounds to be outdated and having no connection to Russia or Ukraine.

Old Photo Features the Collapse of a Large Section of the Beirut Port Silos 

Despite social media users' claims, the image in question does not show the aftermath of the Ukraine Security Service (SBU) headquarters in Kyiv following a Russian missile strike. 

Originally shared on August 23, 2022, the image features a screenshot from a video of smoke and debris rising from silos damaged during the massive explosion in the port of Beirut, Lebanon.

The Voice of America (VOA) utilized this photo in an article covering the incident at the time.

Moreover, the Independent also published the original photo on August 23, 2022, in an article titled "Large section of smoldering Beirut port silos collapses."

A Large Section of Beirut Port Silos Collapses

Another significant section of the devastated Beirut Port silos collapsed in a cloud of dust. There were no reported injuries, as the area had long been evacuated. However, this collapse served as another painful reminder of the catastrophic explosion that occurred in August 2020.

The collapse left the southern part of the silos still standing amidst a pile of charred ruins, while the northern block, which had been gradually tipping over since the initial explosion two years prior, deteriorated rapidly after catching fire over a month ago due to fermenting grains.

These silos, which were 50 years old and stood at 48 meters (157 feet) tall, had initially withstood the force of the explosion on August 4, 2020. Their resilience effectively shielded the western part of Beirut from the blast, which tragically claimed the lives of over 200 people, injured more than 6,000, and caused extensive damage to entire neighborhoods.

Russian Missile Debris Hit Kyiv

The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) headquarters in Kyiv was the target of an attack, according to reports from Ukrainian media. 

On March 25, it was reported that two ballistic missiles were launched from Russian-occupied Crimea towards Kyiv, specifically aimed at the SBU offices in the capital.

The Ukrainian Air Force has confirmed that both missiles intended for the SBU base were successfully intercepted and did not reach their intended target.

However, an image showing a damaged building and emergency workers shows the aftermath of the Russian missile attacks that occurred in central Kyiv on March 25, where debris fell following the interception.

143 Russians Killed in Crocus Hall City Attack

Gunmen wearing camouflage killed at least 143 people and injured 360 others during an attack at the Crocus City concert hall near Moscow last week. This incident marks the deadliest attack in Russia since the 2004 Beslan school siege.

The Islamic State (IS) group has claimed responsibility for the attack, sharing an image of the four masked assailants through their media outlet, Amaq. President Vladimir Putin announced that all four perpetrators have been apprehended.

In a televised address, President Putin condemned the massacre, labeling it a "barbaric terrorist act." Russian security services previously suggested that the attackers attempted to flee to Ukraine.

President Volodymyr Zelensky directly accused President Putin of trying to shift blame onto Ukraine for the attack. Zelensky criticized Putin, saying, “This worthless Putin, instead of dealing with his citizens of Russia and addressing them, remained silent for a day, thinking how to bring this to Ukraine.” 

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