Ihor Plotnytsky, the head of the self-proclaimed Luhansk People's Republic (LPR), was injured and hospitalized after an explosive device went off near his car in Luhansk on Saturday morning.

"The republic's head has been taken to one of the capital's hospitals," the Luhansk information center reported.

An Interfax correspondent reported from the scene that LPR law enforcement officials have cordoned off the scene of the incident.

A damaged black SUV is currently sitting at the intersection of Karpynsky Street and Vatutin Street; the vehicle does not look burned. Locals said the explosion occurred at about 8:00 a.m. The blast wave and shrapnel broke the windows of the nearby houses.

Local residents have been barred from approaching the scene.

An LPR law enforcement source had told Interfax earlier in the day that Plotnytsky's car had been blown up.

"The explosion took place in Luhansk this morning, and the blast injured two people," he said.