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Putin to keep close eye on investigation of tragedy at Omsk military training center

According to Kremlin spokesman, the Russian defence minister has been delivering regular reports to the president over the day
Military training center in the Russian Siberian city of Omsk AP Photo/Dmitry Feoktistov
Military training center in the Russian Siberian city of Omsk
© AP Photo/Dmitry Feoktistov

MOSCOW, July 13. /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin will have a close eye on the rescue works and the investigation into a deadly accident at a military training center in the Russian Siberian city of Omsk, which claimed 23 lives, presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Monday.

"Obviously, this accident, this tragedy that has claimed the lives of a big number of servicemen will be under control of the head of state," Peskov said. "The defence ministry is taking all necessary measures in terms of rescue works, investigation and in terms of preventing any further such catastrophes."

"The Russian defence minister has been delivering regular reports to the president over the day," the spokesman said.

The accident took place on Sunday evening when a section of the four-story barracks of the Airborne Troops training center in Omsk collapsed. The servicemen were inside the building at the moment. According to the latest data, 23 servicemen died and 19 were rescued, three more servicemen received minor injuries. Seventeen servicemen will undergo medical treatment in Moscow-based clinics.

By now, the rescue operation has been finished. A criminal case on negligence charges has been opened. However, Russia’s special construction agency that had carried out capital repairs of the building in 2013 said the defence ministry had no claims to the building’s bearing structures.

The president expressed condolences to the families of those killed in the accident.