There're Russian Sabotage at Massive Explosion in Ukraine Weapons Factory?

KIEV - An enormous Ukrainian military ammunition depot burst into a roaring inferno overnight - and has been classed as a "present from Vladimir Putin" to the nation's president.

Thousands of shells shot into the sky in what looked like a terrifying firework display, as locals in Vinnitsa city witnessed the windows in their homes shatter from its sheer power.

The mammoth blaze, which some have claimed is part of a Russian sabotage, sparked a mass exodus of 20,000 residents who were affected. A thousand guards worked with 155 firefighters to try and tame the blaze, overnight, and they continued to work into the early hours. Around 83,000 tons of shells are said to be stored at the depot, which is the largest in Ukraine.

Yury Butusov, a chief editor of Censor.net insisted the fire was arson and was quick to point the finger at Russia.

Butusov claimed the explosion was a birthday present from Vladimir Putin to his Ukrainian counterpart Petro Poroshenko, who turned 52 on Tuesday.

Prosecutors are reportedly treating the mammoth incident as an act of "sabotage". Describing the incident, he said the "enemy keeps attacking the military structure of Ukraine".

The catastrophe could deprive Ukraine of a large weapon storage, he insisted.

"The biggest artillery storage of the Ukrainian army has been attacked," he said.

"A source of Censor.net says the explosions are well heard in Vinnitsa, and flying shells are well visible. It is an open storage and its capacity was exceeded," he added.

Ukrainian prime minister Vladimir Groysman, arrived hours after the explosion to take charge of the fire crisis.

"Everybody is working, the situation is under control. All measures are taken to put out the fire, a sufficient numbers of people and engines were sent there,and everything possible is being done," he said.