Car explosion shakes facility linked to Putin’s presidential office in Moscow

 A vehicle explosion shook a site associated with the presidential executive administration of Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on the morning of Thursday, 12 February 2026, causing damage to a parked luxury car and prompting an emergency response from fire and rescue crews.

What Happened

According to early reports from local media, a Mercedes-model SUV detonated outside the Main Research Computing Centre, a facility tied to the administrative apparatus of the Russian presidency in the Ryabinovaya Street district in western Moscow — approximately nine miles west of the Kremlin.

Emergency services were seen at the scene fighting a fire after the blast, and the damaged vehicle was severely impacted in the explosion. Initial accounts suggested that the vehicle was unoccupied at the time, and authorities have not confirmed any injuries or deaths linked to the incident.

About the Site

The Main Research Computing Centre is described in reports as a part of the broader infrastructure serving the Presidential Executive Office, including electronic systems and logistical support functions. Official statements from Russian authorities about the site’s specific role, and whether the explosion affected wider operations, have not yet been released.

Investigation Under Way

Russian officials have yet to formally confirm the cause of the blast or whether it is being treated as an accident, a technical malfunction, or a deliberate act involving an explosive device. There has been no official attribution of responsibility, and early details are limited to local media accounts.

Context of Explosions in Moscow

While the reported 2026 blast appears to be a distinct and newly reported incident, Moscow has seen other explosions involving vehicles and high-ranking officials in recent years, including car bombs that killed senior military officers in 2025. In December 2025, Lieutenant General Fanil Sarvarov — head of the General Staff’s operational training directorate — was killed when a device attached underneath his car detonated in southern Moscow. Ukrainian intelligence and Russian officials disputed responsibility for that earlier attack.

Similar incidents have previously led to tight security responses and wide monitoring by law enforcement agencies given the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine and the possibility of sabotage, intelligence operations or other motives behind targeted attacks. Independent verification of responsibility and motive tends to be slow, and official statements may take time to emerge.