ULYANOVSK — President Dmitry Medvedev sacked several senior generals Tuesday over a series of explosions at an arms depot in central Russia this month, in which 10 people were killed.
Two people died when a chain of ammunition explosions ripped through the Navy arsenal in Ulyanovsk, 800 kilometers east of Moscow on Nov. 13. Eight more were killed at the depot 10 days later when shells exploded during a clear-up operation.
“Unfortunately, this was possible because of lack of control from the Defense Ministry leadership and criminal negligence by those responsible for destroying old ammunition at the depot,” Medvedev told reporters during a visit to Ulyanovsk.
He said he had dismissed from military service the heads of the Defense Ministry’s engineering and artillery departments and a deputy regional commander. He ordered Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov to sack the head of Depot 31, where the blasts took place.
“The quality of storing ammunition should be checked, and I order the defense minister to conduct a complete review. I give you one month,” Medvedev said, standing next to Serdyukov.
Serdyukov is aiming to reform the armed forces into a mobile force capable of fighting in modern conflicts.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.