Moscow, 17 August 2000 (RFE/RL) - Western rescue teams are heading to the site of a sunken Russian nuclear submarine and the deputy chief of the Russian navy discussed the rescue mission with NATO officials in Brussels today. A team of divers from Norway and a sophisticated mini-submarine from Britain are expected to arrive at the site on Saturday.
Russian submersible rescue capsules have repeatedly failed to dock with the nuclear submarine that sank for unknown reasons to the bottom of the Barents Sea last weekend with 118 seamen aboard.
Russian Admiral Aleksandr Pobozhy said at NATO headquarters that he came to Brussels with a submarine expert to discuss organizational and technical issues.
Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Kasyanov describes the situation on the "Kursk" submarine as "close to catastrophic."
Russian Admiral Aleksandr Pobozhy said at NATO headquarters that he came to Brussels with a submarine expert to discuss organizational and technical issues.
Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Kasyanov describes the situation on the "Kursk" submarine as "close to catastrophic."