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The huge shape floating above homes and businesses sparked widespread panic as people took to social media to find out if the end of the world was coming.

Many in the city of Tyumen in south central Russia believed it was the beginning of a nuclear war.

Photos of the ominous mushroom cloud quickly went viral in Russia.

Alexander Bogdanov posted a photo on Instagram saying: "World War III has begun.

"I photographed it from my window."

**CLICK HERE FOR PHOTOS OF THE CATASTROPHIC AFTERMATH OF A NUCLEAR BOMB**

Another, Oleg Alexeeva, tweeted: "Oh, God save us. What have they done?!!!"

While MyraYer posted: "Crazy b******s!!! This is the end."

The huge golden-spiral was spotted by motorists who pulled over to take photos and videos before the world caved in.

But not everybody feared the worst.

A local man said: "I think someone would have said something if we suddenly found ourselves under nuclear attack.

"We can’t rule out the possibility that it was a missile test, but I don’t think so."

Yesterday, UK government officials announced that Britain may be forced to take on American nuclear missiles as a Cold War-like arms race mounts with Russia.

Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond warned there are "worrying signs" with Vladimir Putin's men showing high levels of activity.

Only two nuclear bombs have ever been dropped in war.

In August 1945 – towards the end of World War 2 – the US dropped two atomic bombs on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

The nukes had a devastating impact on Japan – killing at least 129,000 people both on impact and in the hours, days and years that followed because of the huge radiation given off.

In May, crazed Islamic State (ISIS) terrorists claimed they could buy a nuclear weapon within a year.

And last month North Korean leader Kim Jong-un once again rejected peace talks with the West in order to "pursue nuclear weapons".