Criminal Case Opened Over Russian Nuclear Sub Fire

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RIA Novosti, PUBLISHED September 21, 2013

Russia’s Investigative Committee announced Tuesday that officials, who have not been named, will be investigated on abuse of office charges over a recent fire on a nuclear submarine.

A fire broke out on the K-150 Tomsk nuclear-powered submarine Monday morning, while it was undergoing maintenance work at a dock in Russia’s Far East.

The Investigative Committee said that “violations” had been indentified in repair work to the submarine’s main ballast tanks.

On Monday, Russia’s Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said that the fire was likely caused by “safety violations during work to the boat.”

The Investigative Committee also said that 15 servicemen had “suffered harm to their health” as a result of the fire and were being treated in a navy hospital.

Initial reports in the Russian media on Monday cited a spokesman for the plant where the submarine was undergoing repairs as saying that “several firefighters suffered slight carbon monoxide poisoning.”

Later in the day a Defense Ministry official was cited as saying that no one was injured in the fire.

The Investigative Committee did not specify which “state officials” are under investigation, but under Russian law the charges stated carry a maximum penalty of up to four years in jail.

On Monday the Defense Ministry also went on record to confirm that the reactor had been shut down and there were no weapons onboard at the time of the incident.

Topics: Security, Russia, Nuclear ships

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