Sunday, May 17, 2026 11:16:32 AM

A major fire broke out on Sunday afternoon, May 17, at a construction site near the North-Eastern Chord highway in Moscow. Eyewitnesses reported hearing a loud bang before spotting a large column of black smoke rising across from the Izmailovsky Kremlin. Videos and updates quickly spread on Russian Telegram channels.

The blaze, which initially covered about 250 square meters, began spreading rapidly, forcing authorities to block traffic on a nearby highway. Witnesses say flames continued to grow, prompting a swift response from emergency services.

According to Russian channel “112”, the fire was burning through construction trailers at the site. The open construction area, located under an overpass near Cherkizovskaya metro station in north-eastern Moscow, spans around 800 square meters.

Telegram channel Mash reported that construction debris and flammable paint materials were fueling the fire. Flames spread in two directions, and the affected area increased to 300 square meters.

With visibility nearly down to zero due to the thick black smoke, the city’s Department of Transport advised drivers to seek alternative routes. Traffic was completely halted in both directions on the North-Eastern Chord toward Shchyolkovskoye Highway, near 3 Okruzhnoi Proezd in Moscow, and motorists were forced to turn on their hazard lights.

This incident comes just days after another fire broke out at the Izmailovo Kremlin complex on Vernisazhnaya Street, where flames quickly ripped through wooden structures overnight on May 13.

The latest fire also follows reported drone attacks in the Moscow region and the Russian capital early Sunday, May 17. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky cited reasons for the strikes on the capital region.

(c)UAWIRE 2026