Local authorities reported that two Russian towns were evacuated Thursday after a fire broke out at an ammunition storage facility near the Ukrainian border.

The fire occurred days after explosions at a military installation and munitions stockpile in Crimea, a peninsula of Ukraine occupied by Russia, which Russia claimed as an act of "sabotage" on the part of Kyiv.

The fire occurred fewer than 50 kilometers (30 miles) from the Ukrainian border in the Belgorod province, according to a statement from the region's governor, Vyacheslav Gladkov.

Residents of Timonovo and the adjoining village of Soloti were "kept at a safe distance," he added, adding that authorities were investigating the source of the fire.

A social media video depicted a massive flame emitting a dense column of black smoke.

Another footage showed distant explosions occurring in rapid succession.

Thursday's blaze follows a string of explosions at Russian military locations close to Ukraine.

A bomb exploded earlier this month near the Saki military base in Crimea, killing one and injuring numerous more.

A few days later, explosions destroyed an ammunition storage facility in Crimea.

In the second instance, Moscow admitted unexpectedly that sabotage had occurred.

Since the beginning of the Russian offensive in Ukraine at the end of February, Moscow has repeatedly accused Ukrainian forces of conducting strikes on Russian territory, specifically in the Belgorod region.

According to local authorities, four people were killed last month when missiles struck the province seat of Belgorod.

Earlier this month, Gladkov accused Ukraine of using two helicopters to attack a gasoline store near Belgorod.