![\"\"](\"https:\/\/e3.365dm.com\/24\/01\/70x70\/skynews-russia-st-petersburg_6428430.jpg?20240121132156\" "\\"\\"")
<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Explosions at chemical storage facility in Russia | World News<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Two explosions and a fire were reported at a site run by Russia’s second-largest natural gas producer on Sunday.<\/p>\n
The blasts, where a gas tank is thought to have exploded, were reported at Novatek’s chemical storage facility at Ust-Luga port, 100 miles southwest of St Petersburg, according to local media.<\/p>\n
A statement given by the company to media outlet RBC said they were the result of “external influence” and that operations at the site had been paused.<\/p>\n
A separate local news outlet reported two drones flying towards St Petersburg on Sunday morning. Kyiv has not commented.<\/p>\n
Yuri Zapalatsky, head of Kingisepp, the district where the port is based, said there were no casualties, but the area has been placed on high alert.<\/p>\n
Sky News could not independently verify the reports.<\/p>\n
According to the Russian defence ministry, there has been no drone activity reported in the district, but four Ukrainian drones were shot down over the Smolensk, Oryol and Tula regions.<\/p>\n
There was also a Ukrainian drone shot down on the outskirts of St Petersburg on Thursday.<\/p>\n
Read more from Sky News:
Cat thrown from Russian train
Two navy ships crash off coast of Bahrain
Women having C-sections without drugs in Gaza<\/strong><\/p>\n