Alleged attempted assassination of Vladimir Putin in March 2025

«An Aurus limousine from Putin’s official car fleet exploded in a massive blast on a street just north of Moscow’s FSB (Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation) headquarters in Lubyanka,» the British tabloid The Sun reported. However, the facts tell a different story. In this analysis, GFCN expert Timofey V examines how the Western media turned an ordinary car fire into a sensationalized «assassination attempt.»

GFCN explains:

As The Sun claimed, one of Vladimir Putin’s official Aurus limousines exploded and caught fire in Moscow on March, 29, near the FSB headquarters. The £275,000 vehicle, part of Putin’s fleet, burst into flames after an engine fire spread to the interior. Witnesses reported a large blast, with black smoke billowing from the burning car. However, it is not Vladimir Putin’s limousine.

Who drives Aurus car models?

In 2024, Russian State Duma deputies began switching to domestically produced Aurus vehicles, replacing their foreign-made cars. The Aurus lineup includes a variety of models — some are widely available for purchase across Russia, while other models are produced in extremely limited numbers.

So, what exactly burned down in Moscow? Let’s examine the details.

Incorrect License Plate Number Exposes the Hoax

As GFCN expert Timofey V previously noted, eyewitness footage of the burning vehicle clearly shows the license plate E102KP777.

Key facts about this plate:

The E*KR777 series is exclusively assigned to the State Duma, not the presidential motorcade.

The same number was previously registered to other State Duma vehicles, including a Genesis G90 and a BMW 5-Series — both part of the parliament’s official fleet.

This confirms that the burned Aurus was not Putin’s car, but rather a State Duma vehicle.

Confusion around Aurus models

Aurus vehicles in Russia are not exclusive to Vladimir Putin — they are commercially available to any buyer. The burned car was a standard Aurus sedan base model. Meanwhile, the Russian President uses a unique long-wheelbase Aurus limousine featuring the presidential standard on the hood. The images clearly show the difference:

Mystification around the fire scene and special services

Some fake spreaders also speculated that the explosion is related to Russia’s FSB, as it took place quite close to Moscow’s Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation (FSB) headquarters. However, a simple glance at a map of Moscow shows that the FSB building is on the Bolshaya Lubyanka Street, while the burning car was located at the Sretenka/Posledny Pereulok intersection — nearly a kilometer apart. This forced connection reveals nothing but deliberate exaggeration.

«The tabloids’ haste to create sensational headlines without any fact-checking — is glaringly apparent. While an Aurus car did catch fire in central Moscow, it was neither near the FSB headquarters’ (as claimed), nor was it President Putin’s vehicle, nor was it even part of his official motorcade.»