Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered the country's defense chief to travel to a northern naval base to conduct a probe after a fire on what the Kremlin described as a deep-sea "research submersible" killed 14 crew members.



Putin on July 2 called the incident a "great loss" and told Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu to "personally receive reports," give tasks to investigators to "identify the causes behind this tragedy," and report back to him.



Putin's meeting with Shoigu came after the Defense Ministry said earlier in the day that 14 sailors were killed when a fire broke out on July 1 aboard a submersible that the ministry said was carrying out "research" work in Russian territorial waters.

It was one of the worst Russian naval disasters since 2000, when the Kursk nuclear-powered submarine sank following two explosions aboard the vessel, killing all 118 crew members aboard.

Russia's RBK news outlet quoted a military source as identifying the vessel in the latest incident as the Losharik AS-12 nuclear-powered submarine, although the Defense Ministry has not identified the type of vessel involved.



When the Losharik was launched in the early 2000s, details of the vessels were considered highly secret. One report said it was capable of diving 2,500 meters under the sea.



Russian media reported that the Losharik is carried under the hull of a mother submarine, the nuclear-powered Belgorod.

Russia in April launched the special-purpose Belgorod, which is believed capable of carrying nuclear-tipped underwater drones capable of threatening U.S. coastal cities.



The RBK report said the incident occurred in the evening hours of July 1.

Per Strand, a director at the Norwegian Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority, told Reuters that his agency had not seen any raised levels of radiation in the area of the submarine accident. He said Norwegian authorities had been told by their Russian counterparts that a "gas explosion" had occurred on board the vessel.

The Russian Defense Ministry later denied making any comment about a "gas explosion." The discrepancy was not immediately explained.

A Russian Defense Ministry statement said that the sailors died as a result of inhaling combustible fumes aboard the research vessel, which was conducting measurements on the floor of the ocean.

The report did not say how many crew members were aboard. It said the fire was put out by other crew members.



The submersible is now at a navy base in the northwestern city of Severomorsk near Murmansk on the Barents Sea, officials said.



An investigation has been launched, the ministry said.



AFP quoted a military expert speaking on condition of anonymity as doubting that the vessel was on a scientific research mission.



"Usually it's a cover for different type of work conducted on the seabed," like laying cables, the expert said.

Russia has suffered several deadly submarine incidents over the past two decades, as well as a rash of fires during decommissioning at ports.

In the deadliest submarine incident since the Kursk, 20 Russian sailors and shipyard workers died aboard the submarine K-152 Nerpa when the fire-extinguishing system accidentally activated, causing suffocation. ​

With reporting by and Current Time, AP, AFP, Reuters. RIA Novosti, Interfax, and TASS </s> Fourteen sailors have died after a fire broke out on one of Russia's deep-sea submersibles.

The defence ministry said the fire was extinguished due to the "self-sacrifice" of the crew, but did not give any cause of the blaze - or reveal if there were any survivors.

It said the incident happened while the unnamed vessel - intended for studying the seabed - was performing tests.

The underwater craft is now at the Arctic port of Severomorsk, the main base of Russia's Northern Fleet.

Submersibles are usually smaller than submarines - which unlike submersibles can operate over long distances, are autonomous and do not need surface support.

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President Vladimir Putin has ordered an inquiry into what happened after cancelling a scheduled event and summoning his defence minister to be briefed on the situation.

Image: Vladimir Putin has ordered an inquiry into what happened

Norwegian authorities said on Tuesday they have not detected abnormally high levels of radiation after the submersible caught fire in the area of the Barents Sea.

Per Strand, a director at the Norwegian Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority, said Russian officials had told his agency that a gas explosion took place on board.

Russian reports have claimed that it was one of the country's most secret submarines - the nuclear-powered AS-12 Losharik, designed for sensitive missions at great ocean depths - but there was no official confirmation of the claims.

The Losharik, which entered service in 2010, is named after a Soviet-era cartoon character - a toy horse made of small spheres.

The name is said to be explained by the unique design of its internal hull, which is made of several titanium spheres capable of withstanding high pressure at great depths.

Analysts suggested one of its possible missions could be disrupting communication cables on the ocean bed.

The Russian navy also uses Priz-class and Bester-class deep water vehicles, which have a hull built of titanium and are capable of operating at a depth of 1,000m (3,281ft).

Tuesday's fire marks the deadliest Russian naval incident since 2008, when 20 died when a firefighting system was accidentally initiated while the Nerpa nuclear-powered submarine of Russia's Pacific Fleet was undergoing trials.

In the deadliest naval incident in post-Soviet Russia, the Kursk nuclear submarine exploded and sank on 12 August 2000 during naval manoeuvres in the Barents Sea, killing all 118 crew members. </s> Russia’s Defense Ministry says a fire on one of its deep-sea research submersibles has killed 14 crew members, RFE/RL reports.

The ministry said on Tuesday, July 2 that the tragedy took place the previous day as the vessel was carrying out a survey in Russian territorial waters.

A Defense Ministry statement said that the sailors died as a result of inhaling combustible fumes aboard the research vessel, which was conducting biometric measurements on the floor of the ocean.

The submersible is now at a navy base in the northwestern city of Severomorsk near Murmansk on the Barents Sea, officials said.

An investigation has been launched.

In 2000, all 118 crew members aboard the Kursk, a Russian nuclear-powered submarine, were killed when the vessel sank to the floor of the Barents Sea following two explosions in a tragedy that gripped the nation at the time. </s> The Russian Defence Ministry revealed the blaze engulfed the deep-sea research vessel on Monday while it was performing tests. The sailors didn't die in the blaze but as a consequence of it, poisoned by fumes released when the submersible caught fire, the Ministry said in a statement. Russian officials praised the courage of the men aboard, saying the fire was extinguished thanks to the crew's "self-sacrifice".

When the fire broke out, the vessel was at Severomorsk, in the Murmansk region, which is the main base of the Northern Fleet. The official statement read: "On July 1, a fire broke out in Russian territorial waters on a research deep-water apparatus designed to study the bottom space and the bottom of the World Ocean in the interests of the Russian Navy. "During the biometric measurements, 14 submariners died as a result of burning with poisoned products.

"The causes of the incident are established." Officials added an investigation has been launched by the Commander-in-Chief of the Navy, and they have yet to reveal what caused the fire. They also didn't disclose which name or type of submersible went ablaze, disclosing only it was a vessel intended for studying the seabed. However, they said the submersible is now at the Arctic port of Severomorsk, the main base of Russia's Northern Fleet.

A submersible is an underwater vessel which, unlike submarines, needs is not fully autonomous but needs a support ship on the surface. The Russian navy is known for using Priz-class and Bester-class deep-water vehicles, which are usually transported to the area of their research by a carrier vessel. This fire marks the deadliest Russian naval incident since 2008. </s> The seaman were poisoned by fumes when the vessel caught fire while taking biometric measurements yesterday, the defence ministry said.

An investigation is underway into the incident on board the vessel, which was based out of the Northern Fleet main port of Severomorsk in Murmansk.

The deep-sea research vessel was carrying out a military survey in Russian territorial waters.

The ministry's statement said the submersible is intended for studying the seabed, but didn't give its name or type. Authorities haven't given a cause for the fire, saying that an official investigation has started.

The Russian navy uses Priz-class and Bester-class deep water vehicles, which have a hull built of titanium and are capable of operating at a depth of 3,281 feet.

They are transported to the area of operation by a carrier vessel and can operate autonomously for up to 120 hours.

The blaze marks the deadliest Russian naval incident since 2008, when 20 died when a firefighting system was accidentally initiated while the Nerpa nuclear-powered submarine of Russia's Pacific Fleet was undergoing trials.

In the deadliest naval incident in post-Soviet Russia, the Kursk nuclear submarine exploded and sank on Aug. 12, 2000, during naval maneuvers in the Barents Sea, killing all 118 crewmembers.

Russian Defense Ministry reported. "On July 1, a fire broke out in Russian territorial waters on a research deep-water apparatus designed to study the bottom space and the bottom of the World Ocean in the interests of the Russian Navy.

"During the biometric measurements, 14 submariners died as a result of burning with poisoned products"

"The causes of the incident are established. The investigation is conducted by the Commander-in-Chief of the Navy."

In August 2000, the Russian nuclear-powered submarine Kursk sank to the floor of Barents Sea after two explosions in its bow, killing all 118 men aboard. </s> Russia's Defense Ministry said Tuesday that 14 submariners were poisoned by fumes and died after a fire broke out aboard a navy deep water research vessel. The fire began while the crew was surveying the seabed in Russian territorial waters on Monday.

NPR's Lucian Kim reports Russian President Vladimir Putin has dispatched the defense minister to lead the investigation of the accident.

Putin described the stricken vessel as "an unusual submarine" and said seven of those killed were high-ranking naval officers.

Some Russian media outlets, citing military sources, said it was a secret nuclear-powered submersible that can operate thousands of feet deeper than regular submarines.

NPR's Lucian Kim reports from Moscow that the craft has been recovered and is in Severomorsk, the main base for Russia's Northern Fleet on the Arctic Ocean.

"Accidents have plagued the Russian navy," Kim says. "The worst was in 2000, when the Kursk submarine sank, killing all 118 personnel aboard, and creating the first crisis for Russia's new president at the time, Vladimir Putin."

The Kursk submarine was also part of Russia's Northern Fleet.

Kim reports that Putin has canceled a previously scheduled appearance to meet with Russia's defense minister.

According to Sky News, "The Russian navy uses Priz-class and Bester-class deep water vehicles, which have a hull built of titanium and are capable of operating at a depth of 3,281ft (1,000 meters). The blaze marks the deadliest Russian naval incident since 2008, when 20 died when a firefighting system was accidentally initiated while the Nerpa nuclear-powered submarine of Russia's Pacific Fleet was undergoing trials." </s> The Russian military says that a fire on one of its deep-sea submersibles has killed 14 sailors.

In this video grab provided by the RU-RTR Russian television via APTN , Russia rescue personnel return from a dive in a mini submarine to the Kursk on the sea bed in the Barents Sea, Russia. The Russian military says that a fire on one of its deep-sea submersibles has killed 14 sailors. The Defense Ministry says that the blaze erupted Monday while the vessel was performing tests in Russia's territorial waters. (RU-RTR Russian Television via AP)

MOSCOW — The Russian military says that a fire on one of its deep-sea submersibles has killed 14 sailors.

The Defense Ministry says that the blaze erupted Monday while the vessel was performing tests in Russia’s territorial waters.

The ministry said in a statement Tuesday that the fire was extinguished thanks to the crew’s self-sacrifice.

It added that the submersible is now at the Arctic port of Severomorsk, the main base of Russia’s Northern Fleet. An official investigation has started. </s> Russia's Defense Ministry says a fire on one of its deep-sea research submersibles has killed 14 crew members.

The ministry said on July 2 that the tragedy took place the previous day as the vessel was carrying out a survey in Russian territorial waters.

 

 It said the 14 sailors died as a result of smoke inhalation.

The submersible is now at a Russian Navy base in the northwestern city of Severomorsk.

An investigation has been launched.

Based on reporting by RIA, Interfax, and TASS </s> A British warship is today escorting a Russian destroyer out of the English Channel.

The Royal Navy frigate HMS St Albans has been scrambled to intercept Russia’s Neustrashimyy-class battleship, which specialises in anti-submarine warfare

The Russian destroyer is thought to be on “Syria duty”, the Mirror reports .

St Albans, which is due to be transferred to Devonport as part of a major shake-up of the fleet, is thought to have shadowed the 4,400 ton Russian craft - which is bristling with anti-ship and anti-submarine missiles and sonar detection equipment - overnight.

The Portsmouth-based British Type 23 frigate and her crew is also loaded with anti-ship and anti-sub torpedos and guns, ready for warfare.

Last night it was not clear whether the Russian craft was on the way to or from Syria’s coastline.

Commander John Cromie, commanding officer of HMS St Albans, said: “As the Royal Navy’s high readiness unit in UK waters we are the first responders.”

“Our activation today in response to the passage of a Russian warship close to the UK resulted in a cordial interaction between professional sailors based on the recognised conventions at sea.

“We are always standing ready, as is the rest of the fleet to defend UK waters and UK Sovereignty 24 hours a day, 365 days a-year.”

Russian warships have for the past several years frequently passed through the English Channel on the way to or back from coastal patrols off Syria.

But growing tensions between Britain and the Kremlin have led to more tense escorts of the Russian Navy vessels.

Russian bombers and spy planes have also been warned away from UK airspace in recent years as they probe the UK defences and reaction times.

But each time they have been warned away from UK airspace after the RAF scrambled Typhoon fighter jets on emergency duties.

It is also believed that the Russian Navy has made underwater incursions close to the British shore in submarines, to test UK sea defences.

British Tornado bombers which are currently based in Cyprus recently took part in a 100-strong missile strike on Syrian President Assad’s chemical weapons installations.

The US-led attack, which was supported by Britain and France, was viewed as an act of aggression against Russia, which is a close ally of Assad and his regime.

Russia has repeatedly vetoed attempts at the UN security council to impose measures against Syria, following regime atrocities against civilians.

In January HMS Westminster was rushed from Portsmouth by the Ministry of Defense (MoD) - tasked with keeping an eye on Vladimir Putin 's fighting force as they passed close to UK territorial waters.

The Russian fleet making its way through the Channel is understood to be made up of two warships and two supporting vessels.

The British vessel - which returned to the sea last year after a refit including a new weapon system - will remain with the two Steregushchiy-class frigates Soobrazitelny and Boiky and support vessels Paradoks and Kola as they head north.
A fire on the Russian Navy's Losharik submarine kills 14 crew members while the vessel conducts tests in Russian territorial waters.