All news

Criminal case opened over death of 6 Pskov region paratroopers

Criminal proceedings were opened over violation of procedures for handling weapons and hazardous objects which resulted in manslaughter
Photo ITAR-TASS/Yelena Nagornykh
Photo ITAR-TASS/Yelena Nagornykh

MOSCOW, October 23 (Itar-Tass) - A criminal case has been opened over the death of six paratroopers in an explosion in the Pskov region, the press service of the Main Military Investigation Department (GVSU) of the Investigative Committee told Itar-Tass.

"Criminal proceedings were opened over violation of procedures for handling weapons and hazardous objects which resulted in manslaughter," a GVSU representative said.

The fatal incident at the Strugi Krasnye firing range near the city of Pskov, northwestern Russia that killed six and wounded two servicemen was caused by unexploded munitions the press service of the Russian Defense Ministry said on Tuesday.

The incident took place at about 19:00 Moscow time, when the servicemen were returning from shooting trials in conditions of complete darkness and tripped an unidentified object.

“Preliminary analysis of the propagation of the explosive wave and the shell-hole, and the types of wounds of the servicemen prove that it was an explosion of an artillery shell,” the press service said.

Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu has issued an order to offer all necessary help to the families of those killed.

This is not the first fatal incident at the Strugi Krasnye firing range in the past several years. Thus, on April 13, 2011, four serviced were killed and one was wounded in an explosion that occurred during military drills of the 106th Tula division of the Russian Airborne Troops.