MOSCOW (AP) — A Russian magazine says a fire aboard a docked Russian nuclear submarine could have sparked a catastrophe because it was carrying nuclear-tipped missiles, despite official statements to the contrary.
The respected Kommersant Vlast news magazine said in Monday’s issue that the Dec. 29 fire on the Yekaterinburg could have triggered powerful explosions that would have destroyed the submarine and scattered radioactive material.
When the fire erupted, the Defense Ministry said all weapons had been unloaded before the submarine was moved to a drydock for repairs at the Roslyakovo shipyard in the Murmansk region.
The ministry wouldn’t make an immediate comment on the magazine’s claim.
