Barely a week after the mysterious fire onboard the nuclear powered Russian Submarine Losharik which took the lives of 14 highly decorated Russian Officers, another accident involving the Russian Armed Forces has been reported in the same Arctic Region.
As per reports in the mass media, on August 8, 2019, an explosion which occurred in the Northwestern Russian region of Arkhangelsk region injured at least 15 people had been injured in the accident which included Naval officials and a defense industry employee. 5 of the injured later died while undergoing treatment.
Why is this accident unique?
- While military operations are risky and hazardous operations while making accidents a rather commonplace occurrence, this accident is unique as the Russian state-run Nuclear corporation Rosatom confirmed that its employees had been working on an experimental “power source”, most likely a nuclear device at the time of the accident.
- Rosatom is one of the foremost nuclear technology companies in the world and is also involved in the construction of the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant in Tamil Nadu, India.?
- Other sources claim that the exploded device was the engine of the nuclear powered Burevestnik (referred by the NATO as SSC-X-9 Skyfall) cruise missile. The region where the accident took place is home to several Russian Armed Forces Installations and is heavily patrolled by Russian navy ships.
- There are similarities between the press release released by the Rosatom and the Russian Ministry of Defense and the accident may have occurred when the missile’s nuclear-powered ramjet engine failed during testing.
What is happening now?
The accident has lead to the release of radioactive isotopes in the surrounding area. The Russian Hazard Control body is on the scene to provide medical help, supervise monitoring and provide cleanup.