At least twelve Russian soldiers have been confirmed dead and eight more injured following a large explosion at a military training facility in southern Russia.
The incident was reported by several Russian media outlets, citing three anonymous sources within the Kremlin.
Accidental Explosion
The explosion is currently described as an accident. "The soldiers were killed in an unintentional explosion at Kuzmin's military training field in the Rostov region," reported the independent Moscow Times. The newspaper refers to the news site 161.ru, which states that Russia's Investigative Committee has initiated an investigation into the incident.
According to the same site, the explosion occurred on November 3. "About 20 personnel from the marine brigade set up a fire next to an ammunition depot during their lunch break. An RPG-7 grenade launcher rolled into the fire and exploded," the report detailed.
Eight soldiers died instantly at the scene. Four others survived the explosion but later succumbed to their injuries in the hospital.
Incident Covered Up
The Russian regime successfully concealed the incident for almost a month. Following the revelation, the Kremlin continues to remain silent. Neither Russia's Defense Ministry nor the Investigative Committee has commented on the reported explosion.
Visit to the Accident Site
The deceased military personnel were reportedly marines from the Primorye region in Russia's Far Eastern district. The commander of the Russian Pacific Fleet is said to have visited the accident site in the Rostov region, though the exact purpose of the visit has not been clarified.
Strategic Importance of the Rostov Region
The Rostov region borders Ukraine. In its regional capital, Rostov, is located the most important Russian command post for the war in Ukraine. This command post belongs to the Southern Military District, established in 2010, and is responsible for several units active in Ukraine.
During the Wagner Group's uprising in June, the group's mercenaries temporarily took over the military headquarters in Rostov-on-Don.
