The Russian Consulate in Marseille was in lockdown on Monday morning following explosions inside.
Emergency workers were inside while special forces police and soldiers secured the perimeter of the building in the southern French city.
By 9.30am, there were some 30 emergency workers dealing with a fire inside the consulate.
The explosions were caused by two Molotov Cocktails being thrown over the walls of the property, a Marseille police source confirmed.
“There were two loud explosions and material damage, but nobody was injured,” said the source.
“The building remains in lockdown, and a criminal enquiry has been launched.”
The Russian foreign ministry claimed that the explosion “all the hallmarks of a terrorist attack” without providing any evidence.
Spokesperson Maria Zakharova said: “We demand exhaustive and prompt measures to investigate, as well as steps to strengthen the security of Russian foreign missions.”
The blasts came on the third anniversary of Russia’s ground invasion of Ukraine, and on the day French president Emmanuel Macron travels to Washington for an emergency meeting about the war with President Donald Trump.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez and EU Commissioner Ursula von der Leyen were among the world leaders who arrived in Kyiv on Monday morning in a show of support for Ukraine.
Volodymyr Zelensky marked the third anniversary of the war in Ukraine by praising the “absolute heroism” of the Ukrainian people.
The Ukrainian president thanked “everyone who defends and supports Ukraine” as European leaders gathered in Kyiv to mark the anniversary.
He said in a statement: “Three years of resistance. Three years of gratitude. Three years of absolute heroism of Ukrainians. I am proud of Ukraine! I thank everyone who defends and supports it. Everyone who works for Ukraine.
"And may the memory of all those who gave their lives for our state and people be eternal.”
