MOSCOW

Three people were injured in an explosion in the city of Belgorod, which occurred due to an emergency ammunition drop, the region's governor said on Thursday.

There was an abnormal descent of aircraft munitions during a flight of a Su-34 aircraft of the Aerospace Forces, the Defense Ministry said in a separate statement.

"As a result, there was damage to residential buildings, no casualties. An investigation is underway," it added.

The explosion knocked down power supply lines, shattered windows in nearby apartment buildings, damaged several cars and left a 20-meter crater, Belgorod regional Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov said in a statement.

Belgorod Mayor Valentin Demidov said several apartments were damaged in the explosion, and their residents temporarily placed in hotels.