24 August 2011, 13:00
Explosion in Astrakhan Region was shell self-triggering, militaries say
As reported today by a source from the Russian Ministry of Defence (MoD), the reason of explosion of ammunition on August 23 in the Astrakhan Region in the Ashuluk training range was a spontaneous self-triggering of the propulsion engine of one of the shells.
The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that the explosion occurred at around 5:00 p.m. Moscow time on August 23 during the works of laying down the weapons at one of disposal sires. Six soldiers were killed and 12 more injured. To provide medical care to the servicemen injured by the explosion at Ashuluk, seven surgery units were deployed in Astrakhan hospitals.
"When laying down ammunition at a disposal site, the propulsion engine of one of shells for the 'Grad' installation got spontaneously self-triggered," said the MoD source. "The reactive spray from the engine caused detonation of three more rounds. Fortunately the main stock of ammunition did not detonate."
