‘Putin Motorcade’ Limo Burns Down in Central Moscow: What To Know

A limousine said to be part of Vladimir Putin’s presidential fleet has been gutted by fire.

Social-media users viewed the viral footage of the burning Aurus Senat car, which is believed to be worth around $350,000. The incident took place near the headquarters of Russia’s main intelligence agency, the FSB, according to reports.

Newsweek has contacted the Kremlin for comment.

Why It Matters

With over 1.7 million views on one social-media account, footage of the burning car has gone viral and prompted much speculation. The cause of the fire is not known, and it is not clear whether the vehicle had been personally used by Putin, but the Russian leader has reportedly displayed paranoia about assassination plots.

What To Know

The Aurus limousine blew up on Sretenka Street just north of the FSB headquarters in Lubyanka on Saturday night, with video footage showing the fire spreading to the vehicle’s interior.

Onlookers can be seen watching back smoke billowing out of the front of the destroyed vehicle, and the rear of the car also seemed to be damaged.

It is not clear who was using the car, but it is said to be owned by Putin’s Presidential Property Management Department, British newspaper The Sun reported. Putin reportedly ordered the sewers in the area and his own security staff to be checked.

There were no reports of injuries and no details about the cause of the fire, according to German outlet Bild. The story of the incident was also widely picked up by media outlets including those in Ukraine.

The German newspaper said that the incident had caused panic in the Kremlin, noting that security is tight around the Russian president when he travels.

Putin rides in a convoy of heavily armored vehicles, surrounded by military special forces with AK-47s, anti-tank grenade launchers and anti-aircraft missiles.

In December, a bomb hidden in an e-scooter killed Putin’s head of Russia’s chemical and biological forces, Lieutenant General Igor Kirillov, and his aide in an attack for which Ukraine claimed responsibility. The independent Russian language outlet Meduza said that Putin had called the incident a major security lapse.

Video from Putin’s visit last week to the Arctic city of Murmansk showed servicemen from a ceremonial guard being patted down for hidden weapons or explosive devices before the president came to lay a wreath by the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

What People Are Saying

The Sun newspaper wrote: “An Aurus limousine from Putin’s ‘official car fleet’ blew up in a huge blast on a street just north of Moscow’s FSB secret service headquarters in Lubyanka.”

Ukrainian X user Devana posted: “Not just Russia is burning—even Putin’s limo went boom. So hey, Vladimir—if even your car goes up in flames next to FSB HQ … maybe the system’s cracking from within?”

What Happens Next

Official comment about the car blast is unlikely, but security around Putin will continue to dominate headlines. Russia’s special services have ramped up the already-strict security measures surrounding the Russian leader to an unprecedented degree, unnamed Russian and Kremlin officials told The Moscow Times in June 2024.