A huge blast in Russia has resulted in several trucks in Krasnodar Krai being engulfed in flames in dramatic footage shared on social media. Meanwhile Russian academic Dr Yuri Felshtinsky has warned Russia's so-called ceasefires are nothing but "a play of words" designed to crush the hopes of those under attack, an expert has warned.

Russian news channel Kuban24 reported eyewitnesses as hearing "several bangs", with the clip appearing to show the vehicles on fire. There is no indication yet as to the cause but the incident will doubtless focus attention of the ongoing war in Ukraine. Krasnodar is barely 120 miles from the Kerch bridge which links Russia to Crimea. One Ukrainian-based blogger claimed, without providing evidence: "After two months in which Ukraine stopped all strikes on Russian oil infrastructure (which is the ONLY thing Putin cares about), it's over. Suspected to be Neptune missiles have just struck Novorossiysk's oil gear."

Dr Felshtinsky has warned Russia's so-called ceasefires are nothing but "a play of words" designed to crush the hopes of those under attack, an expert has warned. Nevertheless, US President Donald Trump remains "optimistic" he can strike a deal - while admitting he is growing "increasingly frustrated" with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

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