Australian police arrested a man on Monday morning after a car rammed into the front gate of the Russian consulate in Sydney, briefly closing the diplomatic mission before it reopened.
The incident occurred just after 8 a.m. local time (2200 GMT Sunday) in the suburb of Woollahra, where the consulate is located.
Television footage showed a vehicle with a smashed window abandoned near a Russian flagpole inside the compound grounds.
New South Wales Police confirmed that a 34-year-old man was taken into custody at the scene and is now assisting with inquiries.
Authorities said there were no injuries reported in the crash, and initial assessments suggest the collision caused only minor damage to the property.
The consulate was temporarily closed while officers secured the area but later reopened. People who had visa appointments were seen waiting behind a police cordon until operations resumed.
The man’s motive has not been confirmed, but the incident comes at a time of strained relations between Australia and Russia, particularly over Moscow’s war in Ukraine.
Australian authorities have previously condemned Russian cyberattacks and disinformation campaigns and joined international sanctions.
Police stated that investigations are ongoing, including examining whether the act was deliberate or linked to political motives.