North Ossetia Bans Publication of Drone Attack Footage

| News, Politics, North Caucasus

On September 24, Sergey Menyaylo, the Head of North Ossetia, stated that the region’s parliament had approved amendments to the law on administrative offenses, introducing a ban on publishing photographs and video recordings showing the aftermath of drone attacks. The law allows an exception only for materials released by state bodies and also extends the ban to information about the location of military facilities, critical infrastructure, and law enforcement units. Violations carry fines ranging from ₽3,000 (€30.53)–₽5,000 (€50.89) for individuals, ₽30,000 (€305.29)–₽50,000 (€508.86) for officials, and ₽100,000 (€1,017.72)–₽200,000 (€2,035.44) for legal entities, with repeat offenses resulting in higher penalties. Menyaylo emphasized that the measures aim to prevent the dissemination of data that could be exploited by the "enemies of the country."

Notably, recent media reports indicate a significant escalation in drone-related attacks within Russia's North Caucasus federal republics, particularly Dagestan and North Ossetia. On September 20, 2025, Ukrainian drones targeted the Caspian Flotilla's naval base in Kaspiysk, Dagestan. Footage circulated online showed a kamikaze drone striking port facilities and vessels, though the authenticity of the footage remains unverified. This attack marks a significant escalation in drone warfare within the region. In April 2025, North Ossetia experienced a major drone attack. According to officials, 15 drones were shot down in the Mozdok district. Debris from one of the drones reportedly landed on an uninhabited building. The attack was the most significant drone incident in the region to date.

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