A huge explosion lit up the skies above Russia’s Belgorod region on Monday, sending a vast plume of smoke into the air and triggering reports of injuries and widespread damage.

Dramatic footage shared online showed a towering cloud rising above the area as debris appeared to fall back to the ground following the blast.

The exact cause remains unclear.

Local reports initially suggested a Russian aerial bomb may have fallen in the area, while later accounts speculated that a Ukrainian drone strike could have hit an ammunition storage site, setting off a major detonation.

Neither explanation had been independently confirmed.

Regional officials described the incident as a “detonation”, while emergency services continued to assess the situation.

What damage was reported at Belgorod?

According to Belgorod operational staff, the blast caused damage in and around the village of Belovskoye.

Officials said five women suffered concussion injuries and were taken to Belgorod City Hospital No. 2 for treatment.

The force of the explosion reportedly damaged three apartment blocks, more than 20 private homes and an office building.

Authorities said roofs, facades and entrances were among the structures affected.

Emergency crews were deployed to the area as residents dealt with the aftermath of the blast.

Were there concerns about further explosions?

Officials said the situation remained unstable, with reports indicating secondary detonations were continuing at the site, reports The Sun.

The possibility of further blasts prompted ongoing emergency operations in the area.

The explosion came amid a renewed exchange of strikes between Russia and Ukraine.

Russian authorities said the St Petersburg region had come under what they described as an “unprecedented attack”, claiming more than 140 drones were intercepted over the wider Leningrad area.

Residents were reportedly advised to remain indoors, marking the first such warning in the region since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

What has Volodymyr Zelensky said?

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Ukrainian forces had targeted Russian arsenals and a naval base, describing the operations as a response to continued Russian attacks.

He said Ukrainian drones had travelled as far as 1,000km into Russian territory and struck military sites, including naval facilities and fuel infrastructure.

Calling the operation a “just response”, Zelensky argued Ukraine had the right to target assets supporting Russia’s war effort.

Russia’s defence ministry said its air defence systems intercepted or destroyed 339 Ukrainian drones across several regions in a single day.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian officials accused Russian forces of striking two civilian search-and-rescue vessels operating in the Black Sea during what Kyiv described as a humanitarian mission.

The latest claims underline the continuing escalation in the conflict, with both Moscow and Kyiv accusing each other of targeting infrastructure and non-military assets.

Despite international calls for a ceasefire, Russian President Vladimir Putin has continued to insist that Moscow will pursue its military objectives, while Ukraine has maintained its calls for direct negotiations.