Vladimir Putin’s limousine explosion: Motorcade vehicle blows up on Moscow street

A limousine, part of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s official fleet, has exploded on a Moscow Street near Russia’s FSB secret service headquarters.

It is understood Mr Putin was not in the vehicle, as no injuries or death have been recorded, and it is not clear if he had recently used the limousine, one of many owned by the Kremlin’s Presidential Property Management Department.

Reports speculate that something sparked a fire in the vehicle’s engine, which then engulfed the presidential limo in flames, with flames exploding as emergency crews raced to extinguish the inferno.

Crews were seen pumping water into the engine of the vehicle as dark plumes of smoke billowed into the air.

Some users online drew speculation between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s comments earlier this week, where he said Mr Putin would be “dead soon”. The broader context around the comment was around Mr Putin’s reported poor health.

Earlier in 2025, Russian officials warned any attempt on Mr Putin’s life would be met with a nuclear response.

“The plot to assassinate Putin, mere discussions of it as a crime, a serious threat to global security, a direct path to nuclear war,” House Speaker of Russia’s Parliament Vyacheslav Volodin said.

Mr Putin almost exclusively uses Aurus limousines, Russian-made vehicles valued at over $350,000.

The vehicles design is notoriously secretive, however, are said to feature incredible security measures.

Mr Putin has gifted an Aurus limousine to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.