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Public Chamber suggests commission to inspect disused military facilities

Six servicemen were killed and two wounded in an explosion at the Strugi Krasnye firing range near the city of Pskov on Tuesday

MOSCOW, October 23 (Itar-Tass) - The Public Chamber of the Russian Federation suggests that the Defence Ministry should set up a specialised commission to inspect disused military facilities. This suggestion was made after the incident the other day at a firing range near the city of Pskov, northwestern Russia, says a report of the Public Chamber issued on Wednesday.

“There are many disused and abandoned air bases and ranges in Russia where ammunition disposal took place in the 70s and 80s. The ammunition was just earthed without being dismantled,” says the Public Chamber report. “People may walk there. It is horrifying to think that accidents may happen at such facilities.”

The Public Chamber suggests that the Defence Ministry set up a specialized commission, including representatives of the Public Chamber and specific public organizations to conduct inspections of such facilities.

Six servicemen were killed and two wounded in an explosion at the Strugi Krasnye firing range near the city of Pskov on Tuesday. Commander of the Russian Airborne Troops Colonel-General Vladimir Shamanov said that the incident took place at about 19:00 Moscow time, when the servicemen returning from shooting tests in utter darkness tripped on an unidentified object.

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