Following a Venezuela-linked Vessel Reportedly Pursued by the US Coast Guard
Emma Pengelly
Image source
The distinctive yellow-fronted apartment block visible behind assisted us verify the footage.
We are verifying video footage and photographs circulated earlier today that show the aftermath of a reported vehicle-borne explosive explosion that authorities in Russia say fatally injured a high-ranking soldier in Moscow.
Officials in Russia confirmed that Lieutenant General Fanil Sarvarov was inside the car that detonated and that he later died of his wounds. A probe is under way.
The initial step to check the location of where the images were from was based on social media reports indicating the explosion occurred on Yasenevaya Ulitsa in the southern part of the capital city of Russia.
We used street-view imagery on digital map platforms and the local mapping service Yandex to match the unique yellow colour of a nearby apartment building captured in the footage.
Identifying additional structures, lamp-posts and the street layout confirmed where the pictures were taken.
Additionally, we verified that the videos were recent and that the visuals had not undergone digital alteration.
