ANOTHER strategic oil refinery in Russia has been hit by a massive explosion in a series of suspected sabotage blasts.

The explosion at the Angarsk Oil Refinery in Siberia that left two people dead and five injured was so strong it was initially feared to be an earthquake or plane crash. 

Today’s incident is the latest in a series of recent blasts and fires prompting suspicions of sabotage and arson linked to the war in Ukraine. 

A full criminal probe was launched today by the Russian Investigative Committee.

The blast wave at the plant owned by Rosneft  – run by close Vladimir Putin crony Igor Sechin – was felt 25 miles away in Irkutsk city triggering "panic" among locals.

The explosion, timed at 5:52am local time, wrecked several buildings and caused damage away from the epicentre. 

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Videos showed a bright flash as the facility exploded followed by a  raging fire at one of the largest refineries in Russia.

An earthquake appeared to be ruled out as a cause even though the blast, leading to a blaze spreading to an area of around 27,000 square feet – registered as a “seismic event.”

Instead, officials suspect “gas contamination of the unit’s systems” as the likely cause, according to local reports. 

Fearing sabotage, a local comment said: “Wish it had been an earthquake.”

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Lyubov Volokitina said: “My husband got up, went downstairs, poured himself a coffee and looked out the window to see the Christmas tree in our yard, which we decorated yesterday.

“Suddenly there was an explosion, a glow….I thought that a plane fell on us…

“My daughter [14] cried, frightened, and ran to me from her room. My mother phoned in panic.”

Tatyana Borovaya, from nearby village Meget, said: “I thought  war had started….

“It was as if a wave passed through the house, it was shaking.”

Olesya, a local woman posted: “So was it an explosion? 

“I live at the end of Novo-Lenino area, and at 6am I woke up from my bed rocking. 

“The floor lamp swayed. I live on the 17th floor. I thought it was an earthquake.”

Another local said: “I was on my way to the bus at 5:55am and saw a bright flash in the sky, then an explosion and a blast. 

“The roof of the house I was walking past, cracked from the blast wave. 

“My work colleague said they felt a blast wave in Irkutsk.”

A man at nearby electricity power plant number nine said: “The glass was broken…There was a strong explosion at the refinery, now there is a fire.”

Footage showed the destruction of buildings at the refinery site. 

More than 100 people were involved in fighting the flames, it was reported. 

Locals questioned whether it was safe to send their children to school, fearing pollution released by the blast. 

It is the second fire in less than a month at the refinery, with an earlier incident reported on November 27.

Officials said there was “no threat”.

Irkutsk regional governor Igor Kobzev said the blast had not caused structural damage to nearby apartment blocks. 

A meeting of an emergencies committee was taking place at the scene, he said. 

The Angarsk Petrochemical Company is crucial to the economy in eastern Russia as it produces more than 200 types of products.

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Recently there have been explosions and fires at shopping malls amid suspicions of sabotage. 

Two such infernos have ravaged major malls in Moscow in the past week.

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