Why VXX exploded and what it means for volatility (VIX)

One of the big market events today is the explosion in price of VXX which according to the issuer Barclays has nothing to do with Ukraine or market events. I think it is tangentially related in some way to the market conditions but what does this actually mean for the near future of volatility? I look at VIX as a measure of the "fear index" of the S&P500. The VIX can be very useful in timing market tops and bottoms as it represents maximums of emotion. The VIX is telling us something about the current lows of the market and how the recent correction might soon be over.