By Jay Jackson, Iran Herald
13 Aug 2019, 13:51 GMT+10
MOSCOW, Russia - Concerns are mounting over an explosion at a military test site in northern Russia which killed five elite nuclear scientists, and injured 3 others.
The blast took place last Thursday in the city of Sarov, in the Arkhangelsk region.
The scientists killed were employed by Rosatom, Russia's state atomic energy corporation.
In a statement, the corporation said the explosion was a tragic accident, and occurred during tests on a liquid propulsion system involving isotopes.
"Missile tests were held on the sea-based platform. Missile fuel inflammation with further detonation occurred after completion of tests. Several staff members were thrown away to the sea and there was a hope to find them alive. The search continued until the hope to find survivors was present. The death of five Rosatom employees dealing with work related to a radio isotope power source being part of the missile was announced only after that," a further statement from Rosatom said.
"The concourse of factors was present, which often takes place when testing new technologies," a spokesman of Rosatom added.
They named those killed as Alexey Vyushin, Yevgeny Koratayev, Vyacheslav Lipshev, Sergey Pichugin and Vladislav Yanovsky.
Sarov, where the blast occurred is a closed city. It is off-limits to foreigners, and can only be entered with a special permit
There are fears the test has some nuclear bearing, however officials have not eleaborated on the reasons for the blast, or the purposes of the testing.
What is known is that radiation levels did briefly rise after the blast, according to the Tass news agency.
The Arkhangelsk regional governor confirmed to Tass there would be no evacuation in the aftermath of the blast.
"We are skeptical of the claim that what was being tested was a liquid propellant jet engine," Jeffrey Lewis, an arms-control expert at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey, told CNN. "We think it was a nuclear-powered cruise missile that they call Burevestnik."
The same missile is known by NATO members as SCC-X-Skyfall.
A U.S. official has also told CNN that the explosion was "likely" linked to the Skyfall prototype.
U.S. President Donald Trump says the U.S. is learning a lot from the incident.
"The United States is learning much from the failed missile explosion in Russia.We have similar, though more advanced, technology," he posted on Twitter.
"The Russian 'Skyfall' explosion has people worried about the air around the facility, and far beyond. Not good!" he added.
Pictured: City of Sarov | Credit: Wikipedia).
Get a daily dose of Iran Herald news through our daily email, its complimentary and keeps you fully up to date with world and business news as well.
Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to Iran Herald.
More InformationTEHRAN (Tasnim) - China Friday said it had taken 'reciprocal' measures against US diplomats in the country, who will have ...
SYDNEY, Australia - Stocks in Asia made a welcome return to the black on Friday, to close out what has ...
BEIJING, China - The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a $300 million results-based lending program with private sector involvement ...
NEW YORK, New York - U.S. stock markets made minor gains on Thursday as speculation over the outcome of trade ...
DUSHANBE, Tajikistan - Tajikistan is reportedly on the cusp of selling a stake in its main industrial concern to a ...
SYDNEY, Australia - Stocks in Asia firmed on Thursday, after Wall Street rebounded on positive trade comments by President Trump.In ...
Canada recently voted at the United Nations for the establishment of a Palestinian state. At the same time, Canada reiterated ...
The United States has imposed sanctions on three Iranian-linked Iraqi militia leaders for allegedly assisting the violent repression on protests ...
When Souzda fled the deadly shelling in Afrin in northern Syria, she thought she was leaving behind more than just ...
Belle Ombre - Calum Hill of Scotland weathered the heat and humidity at Heritage Golf Club on Friday to card ...
Christmas may be a time of giving, but it's also a peak time for break-ups. Facing the prospect of spending ...
A meeting of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) has ended with an apparent informal agreement to cut ...