Some footage released is said to show a gas pipeline explosion in the Russian-occupied region of Luhansk – following a series of mysterious fires.
The explosion at the Ukrainian pipeline, currently operated by the Russians, on January 7 resulted in the blackout of gas to more than 13,000 homes.
Footage showed the fire tearing through the facility, sending black smoke billowing into the sky.
As reported, a total of 25 workers were evacuated while emergency services attended and “extinguished the fire”.
There are no reports of casualties, but a number of ambulances have been called to the scene.
The annexed region’s Ministry of Emergency Situations said an explosion had caused the incident.
It is not clear who was behind the explosion, but the Russian Ministry of State Security has opened a criminal case for “sabotage due to the explosion of a gas pipeline”.
Otherwise, there has been a spate of unexplained fires – sometimes caused by explosions – in Russian territory and occupied areas.
Some of the incidents are seen as being caused by sabotage attacks by individuals or anti-war groups – or squads sent from Ukraine inside Russian-controlled territory.
