Updated 10:06pm:  RT reporting meteorite has caused 500 injuries, mostly minor from breaking glass. At least people critically injured.  Buildings damaged in 6 cities & unconfirmed reports the meteorite was intercepted by an air defense unit.

A series of explosions in the skies of Russia’s Urals region, reportedly caused by a meteorite shower, has sparked panic in three major cities. Witnesses said that houses shuddered, windows were blown out and cellphones have stopped working.

According to unconfirmed reports, the meteorite was intercepted by an air defense unit at the Urzhumka settlement near Chelyabinsk. A missile salvo reportedly blew the meteorite to pieces at an altitude of 20 kilometers.

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