Pro-Russian separatists accused Ukraine of shelling a brewery in the occupied eastern city of Donetsk on Wednesday, killing one person and triggering a leak of ammonia, Interfax news agency said, writes The Guardian.

The emergencies ministry in the Russian-backed self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic said a shell had hit an ammonia line late at night, sparking a fire that at one point covered 600 square metres.

Reuters pictures from the scene showed flames lighting the sky above one part of the city as well as firefighters donning masks. One picture appeared to show a corpse on the ground.

Russian state media said the “toxic gas is affecting a 2km radius round the factory” citing local DPR officials. Residents have been urged to stay inside and not open their windows.

The Ukrainian defence ministry has not made any comment.