A major pipeline in Ukraine carrying gas from Russia to the rest of Europe has been hit by a blast.

Flames could be seen erupting from the Urengoy-Pomary-Uzhgorod Pipeline in central Ukraine. No one was reported injured by the explosion.

It is not clear what caused the blast. European and Russian companies said gas exports to the EU were not affected.

On Monday, Ukraine said Russia had cut off gas supplies to the country following a dispute over gas payments.

Hundreds of lives have been lost in fighting in Ukraine’s eastern Luhansk and Donetsk provinces, where pro-Russian rebels are battling government forces after declaring independence just over a month ago