Giant explosion that sparked fears of a 'tactical nuke' in Ukraine is caught on camera as diplomats warn Russia could target other Baltic states next
- Huge explosion rocked city of Donetsk turning the night's sky orange
- Blast was so powerful it shattered windows and caused a mushroom cloud
- Sparked fears that the explosion could have been a 'tactical nuke'
- But pro-Russian forces say it was caused by shelling of a chemical plant
- Comes as diplomats predicted Russia could target other Baltic states
- Estonia president compared appeasing Vladimir Putin to that of when Nazi Germany seize parts of Czechoslovakia
A
giant explosion which rocked the Ukrainian city of Donetsk sparked fears
of a 'tactical nuke' after pro-government forces shelled a rebel-held
chemical plant.
Mobile
phone footage captured the moment of the explosion, which turned the
night's sky orange and was so powerful it could be heard as far away as
downtown Donetsk, almost four miles away.
The
blast came as diplomats predicted that Russia could target other Baltic
states, if they are allowed to hold on to eastern Ukraine.
Mobile phone footage captured the
moment a huge explosion rocked the Ukrainian city of Donetsk speaking
fears of a nuclear weapon attack
The blast caused the night's sky to light up orange and was so powerful it could be heard as far away as downtown Donetsk
Last
night, locals posting on social media speculated it was could have been
caused by a nuclear weapon due to the ferocity of the shelling and the
impact on the chemical plant.
It
also temporarily caused a mushroom cloud to hang over the city with the
bombing shattering windows and shaking building foundations.
However,
pro-Russian rebels said that the huge explosion was caused by Ukrainian
artillery shell hitting the chemical plant, which lies in the middle of
the Ukrainian industrial heartland in Donetsk.
It has long been feared that shelling would hit industrial units causing a huge explosion such as this.
Luckily,
no damage or injuries were caused in the blast but the conflict between
Russia-backed separatists and government forces has now killed more
than 5,300 people and displaced more than a million.
Pro-Russian rebels said that the huge
explosion was caused by Ukrainian artillery shell hitting the chemical
plant, which lies in the middle of the Ukrainian industrial heartland in
Donetsk
Fighting
between pro-Russian rebels and pro-government forces loyal to Kiev has
intensified in Ukraine's south east region since the new year, even
though the two sides agreed a truce in September.
And
now diplomats are warning that Russia could be planning to target other
Baltic states with Estonian president Toomas Hendrik Ilves comparing
appeasing president Vladimir Putin to that of when Nazi Germany was
allowed to seize parts of the former Czechoslovakia in 1938.
He
said he had no fears about a Russian invasion of his country but
accepted the security environment in the Baltic area had 'dramatically
changed'.
A woman cries out in anger after her
apartment block in Donetsk is set on fire as a result of shelling.
Fighting between the two sides in Ukraine has intensified in recent
weeks
An elderly woman has to be helped to
her feet after discovering that the apartment block where she lives has
been damaged by shelling
He
told Sky News' Murnaghan programme: 'We don't have to jump right ahead
to being afraid of being invaded. That's far ahead of what we are
concerned about today which is reckless and irresponsible behaviour
throughout our region.'
But
asked how important it was that a firm or even firmer line continue to
be taken against Russia's behaviour, he replied: 'We certainly think
that if you appease right now in Ukraine, we know from history that
appeasement will never satisfy those that are being appeased.
'Munich '38 I think should be a lesson to all of us even today.'
Firefighters work to extinguish the
blaze at the residential block. It comes as diplomats are warning that
Russia could be planning to target other Baltic states
People carry bags of their possessions away from the burning building as shelling and artillery fire intensifies in Donetsk
The
agreement, widely viewed as a failed attempt at appeasement, allowed
Nazi Germany's annexation of portions of Czechoslovakia, creating an
area referred to as the Sudetenland.
And
asked whether being a member of Nato was comforting in the context of
the Russian threat, the Estonian president added: 'That's one reason why
we first of all worked very hard to qualify for membership.
'And
why we along with the UK and another one or two countries are the only
ones in Nato in Europe that fulfill the two per cent defence
expenditure.'
Meanwhile John Herbst, a former U.S. ambassador to Ukraine has called for military intervention in the country.
Pro-government forces unload Grad
rockets from a truck before launching them towards pro-Russian
separatist forces outside Debaltseve in eastern Ukraine
Rockets are fired towards separatist
forces in Ukraine. Nine Ukrainian soldiers have been killed and 26
wounded in the last 24 hours
Fighting between pro-Russian rebels
and pro-government forces loyal to Kiev has intensified in Ukraine's
south east region since the new year
He told the Independent:
'[Putin’s] statements, his provocations against the Baltic states,
against Kazakhstan, indicate his goals are greater than Ukraine. If we
don’t stop Mr Putin in Ukraine, we may be dealing with him in Estonia.
'I’m
not saying we will, but he has given indication that this could happen.
The most important national security challenge in the world today is a
rogue Kremlin and we need to stop him and Ukraine is the place to do
it.'
The
comments come after Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond said Vladimir
Putin is behaving like a 'mid 20th-century tyrant' with the illegal
annexation of Crimea.
He
said the Russian President will pay a 'political and economic price'
for what he is doing in the region but ruled out Britain offering arms
to Ukraine.
Russian president Vladimir Putin,
centre, with German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French president
Francois Hollande at peace talks in the Kremlin last week. Today Mrs
Merkel will brief Barack Obama about the state of the negotiations
The comments echo Prince Charles's warning last year that 'Putin is doing just about the same as Hitler'.
Meanwhile
German chancellor Angela Merkel will brief U.S. president Barack Obama
today about the state of peace negotiations between Ukraine and Russia.
It comes after peace talks last week between herself, Putin and French president Francois Hollande.
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