Dramatic footage has shown a massive plume of smoke rising above a "luxury" residential complex in Moscow as a fire wreaks havoc. It is reported that the incident occured in Roza Rossa in the centre of the Russian city. The blaze engulfed the roof and upper floors of a building, and its cause is unknown, according to NEXTA. A former advisor to Ukraine's Internal Affairs Minister, Anton Gerashchenko, wrote on X that explosions had been reported.

Russian state owned news service RIA reported on Telegram: "A major fire has broken out in the Khamovniki district in central Moscow, a RIA Novosti correspondent reports. A fire broke out in the residential complex 'Rosa Rossa' in the centre of Moscow, a RIA Novosti correspondent reports. Emergency services have already arrived at the scene. More footage from the fire scene in central Moscow." It added: "Emergency services told RIA Novosti that the preliminary area is 100 square meters. Traffic has been blocked on Rossolimo Street in Moscow from Leo Tolstoy Street to Timur Frunze Street due to a fire, the Department of Transport reported."

The Ministry of Emergency Situations has reported that the roof of a six-story building under construction was on fire.

An RIA Novosti correspondent added earlier today that emergency services continue to arrive at the scene, and the fire in a building in the center of Moscow had been "localised".

The area of ​​the fire was being determined, the Ministry of Emergency Situations reported.

RIA also reported that there were at least 12 fire trucks at the scene.

It has been claimed that the property affected is a "luxury penthouse", and, before the fire, people "heard an explosion".

The residential complex impacted was designed and furnished by award-winning Italian architect Piero Lissoni, according to media reports cited by the Moscow Times.

It is thought that the fire erupted during finishing work on the top floorm, spreading across 150 square meters, emergency sources suggest.

Russia’s Emergency Situations Ministry reported that it received a call regarding the blaze at around 1pm Moscow time (10am GMT).