A building used by the Russian intelligence agency has exploded in flames today after witnesses heard loud bangs.
Footage and images shared on social media showed huge plumes of thick, acrid smoke piling into the air above Rostov in southern Russia.
Locals reported hearing enormous explosions before the building was ravaged by the blaze which injured at least two, local media reported.
The city is just 75 miles from the Ukrainian border.
The Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations confirmed the fire had broken out at the Rostov branch of the FSB Border Service.
Local media cited law enforcement sources, saying the fire was caused by ammunition stored in a warehouse.
Windows were smashed and brickwork collapsed at the high security FSB building involved with border control, said reports.
People from neighbouring buildings were evacuated.
"The building is brick, completely on fire. Fuel tanks are burning near the ammunition,” said a law enforcement source.
"Ammunition is detonating in the warehouse at intervals of 5-10 seconds.
”Russia fears that a spate of explosions and fires may be caused by sabotage by people opposed to Vladimir Putin’s war in Ukraine.
Putin a a former head of the FSB secret service which is Russia's main counter-intelligence force, and includes border guards.
Ukraine has admitted to seeking sabotage attacks inside Russia in revenge for Moscow’s brutal invasion.
There were no reports on incoming missiles or drone attacks.FSB operatives today sought to stop filming of the site of the carnage in Rostov.
The building on fire is the Border Directorate of the FSB in Rostov-on-Don.
The area of the fire was more than 8.600 square feet.
An eyewitness said: “It just exploded right in front of my eyes.“All windows flew out, the explosion was so mighty.”
Ukrainian intelligence chief, Major-General Kyrylo Budanov told Forbes last month that Russia was seeing many usual explosions and fires.“Much of this is no accident,” he said.
“Something is constantly on fire [in Russia].“Signalling equipment on railways, it lights up several times a day, on various highways constantly for two to three hours, sometimes for five to six hours, traffic gets suspended.”
He admitted Kyiv is behind some of the sabotage attacks.
“Clearly it doesn’t just happen like this…. I would put it this way: money works wonders.
”The authorities in Rostov said that a wiring fault was responsible for the fire.This is a routine explanation in cases of major fires in the country.
In this case they said the fire spread to ten giant tanks of fuel.Yet firefighters reportedly demanded for “means of armoured protection” because of new explosions.
In the same city earlier this year, FSB officers detained three people who had intended to set fire to a military registration and enlistment office.
The failed arsonists were two 17-year-old boys and a 21-year-old man, local media reported, adding that they decided to throw Molotov cocktails at the government facilities.
As the FSB building burns this morning, a huge fire ripped through a hotel where Ukrainian refugees are said to have been staying.
The fire erupted in the early hours of Thursday morning at a historic 400-year-old hotel in Midhurst, West Sussex and around 30 people had to be evacuated.
At around 6am West Sussex Fire & Rescue Service confirmed the fire had escalated and 15 engines were called to try and bring the fire under control.
They said: "Joint Fire Control mobilised 15 fire engines, two aerial ladder platforms, two water carriers, an off-road vehicle and high volume pump to the scene.
"Upon arrival firefighters were met with a significant fire in the roof space of the hotel, which has since spread to adjacent properties.
The blaze is still going, but the fire service has now confirmed their response is being "scaled down".
One local resident said children were among those evacuated from the hotel.
Early reports indicate there were no casualties, despite around 70 firefighters being called to the blaze.
"We are advising residents to keep windows and doors closed as there is large amounts of smoke in the area.
"It is too early in the incident to know the cause of the fire but we will be investigating as soon as it is safe to do so."
