Ukraine crisis: Donetsk explosion sends blast wave across rebel-held city amid …
The blast occurred at a rubber processing factory full of chemicals, with numerous videos taken in the aftermath of the initial explosion showing further, smaller bursts of flame.
The plant lies in a rebel-controlled area on the outskirts of the city, the largest controlled by the pro-Russian separatists. They and government forces are supposed to be in a state of ceasefire after agreeing a truce last month, but diminished artillery exchanges have continued.
Today’s blast, which rang out at 12.15pm local time, was described by witnesses as by far the largest to have occurred in Donetsk for some time.
This looks bigger than anything else so far rained down on #Donetsk Be interesting to see what @osce make of it. pic.twitter.com/4eoalaqcPF
— Nikolai Holmov (@OdessaBlogger) October 20, 2014
Some rebels said it was caused by a tactical SS-21 Scarab missile, according to Russian media outlets, though this could not be independently verified.
A spokesperson for the Ukrainian military denied reports that the explosion was caused by one of its missiles, saying Kyiv’s forces had nothing to do with the incident.
Now investigating reports of ballistic missile ss-21 scarab hitting #Donetsk windows blown out across the city. pic.twitter.com/2KrStCnRx3
— Roman Kosarev (@Kosarev_RT) October 20, 2014
Pictures showed damage to the exterior of the Donbass Arena, home to the football club Shakhtar Donetsk, while video released by rebels showed a meeting of the Donetsk People’s Republic interrupted by the loud blast, shaking the building and causing attendants to panic.
Since the current ceasefire was announced, the UN estimates more than 300 people have been killed. That compares to more than 3,660 deaths over the course of the six-month conflict.
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