A blistering explosion today ripped through Russian city Grozny, with reports at least four were killed, including two children.
A fuel tanker was jettisoned almost 1,000 ft from the epicentre of the blast towards the courtyard of a high rise building.
Explosive fireball flames cascaded over nearby buildings in the capital of Chechnya, fiefdom of powerful Putin warlord and regional leader, Ramzan Kadyrov.
Locals claimed the blast was so strong that the ground shook like in an earthquake.
The explosion came two days after Kremlin ally Kadyrov alleged there was a plot to assassinate him, masterminded by two MPs and a senator.
The location of the giant blast was on Muhammad Ali Avenue, less than a mile from Kadyrov’s lavish palace.
The death toll was two adults and two children, said Telegram channels close to the Russian security services.
The flaming tanker is believed to have hit people as it was thrown by the explosion.
Reports said the children were struck by the tanker vehicle flying into them close to the residential apartment block.
One tanker is believed to have exploded at the Leader filling station, and a second one was sent flying some 300 meters from the epicentre.
In the wake of the explosion, the site was reduced to mangled metal and scenes of total destruction.
A criminal probe was launched into the blast.
It is not immediately clear if it was arson or an accident.
It comes amid signs of new volatility between competing clans in the
Warlord Kadyrov, 48, is one of Putin’s closest allies and has sent tens of thousands of troops to his war in Ukraine.
He claimed this week that three Russian politicians including a millionaire senator were plotting to kill him.
He announced a “blood feud” against them, highlighting the bitter daggers-drawn battles inside Putin’s murky empire.
The thuggish Chechen ruler – aka The Don – claimed he had proof of a 100 million murder plot against him [he did not specify the currency].
He challenged the trio – Suleiman Kerimov, 58, a Putin-linked senator, plus MPs Rizvan Kurbanov, 63, and Bekkhan Barakhoyev, 51 – to disprove his allegations.
They have denied the plot.
By declaring a blood feud, Kadyrov – also a colonel-general in the Russian national guard – implies the threat of illegal revenge killing against his politician foes.
Widely sanctioned by the West, he is accused of ordering extra-judicial killings inside Russia and abroad.
“If they don’t prove otherwise [that they plotted my murder], I officially declare a blood feud against Bekkhan Barakhoyev, Suleiman Kerimov, and Rizvan Kurbanov,” said Kadyrov.
“Why? Because I am a Caucasian, I am a Chechen. I always bring what’s mine back home.
“There are witnesses, there are people from whom they ordered [my killing].”
They “asked how much….the order [to kill Ramzan Kadyrov] will cost”.
The bizarre dispute is related to vultures circling around Wildberries – the Russian Amazon, worth £5.54 billion.
For unclear reasons, Kadyrov – seen as a secret billionaire – vowed to help Vladislav Bakalchuk, 47, estranged husband of Wildberries CEO Tatiana Kim, 48, return his wife and block the merger of the e-commerce giant with the smaller outdoor advertising group Russ.
Last month a battle for control led to a shootout at the Wildberries HQ, close to the Kremlin, with two security guards killed.
Bakalchuk said he was seeking to negotiate with his estranged spouse.
Kadyrov said of the politicians: “They have their own businesses, and they didn’t just take the business from this woman [Kim], they even ordered me to be killed.”
The three lawmakers are originally from Dagestan and Ingushetia, two Russian republics that border Chechnya.
The Wildberries dispute has been portrayed as a Kremlin-linked business feud between Kadyrov and Kerimov.
Kadyrov said he had taken “personal control” of the crisis.
“A gas tanker exploded at a petrol station in Grozny,” he said.
“As of this moment, four people, including two children, have died.
“At present, the fire has been localised and rescuers are working to remove the rubble.
“The situation is under my personal control.
“An investigative and operational team is working on the site.
“All the circumstances of the incident are being established.
“Without any doubt, all those responsible will be brought to justice in accordance with the law.
“I express my sincere condolences to the families and friends of the victims.”