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Russia tests its latest weaponry
A fire at an air base arms depot in north-western Russia has reportedly set off several missiles, but caused no deaths or injuries.
Amateur video shows what appear to be at least two rockets zigzagging through a clear afternoon sky around the Lodeynoe Pole base near St Petersburg.
Unofficial sources say that at least 400 air-to-air rockets were damaged at a cost of about $82m (£41m).
The fire apparently began during repair work when workers were on a break.
Col-Gen Aleksandr Zelin, commander-in-chief of the Russian Air Force, confirmed a number of air-to-air-missiles had exploded in the fire.
Earlier, an air force spokesman, Col Alexander Drobyshevsky, denied that any rockets had taken to the air as a result of the incident.
'Like fireworks but worse'
An unnamed police source told Russia's Ria Novosti news agency that more than 400 of the missiles had been destroyed, at a total cost of at least $82m.
For its part, the Interfax news agency quoted an anonymous Russian security source as saying 450 missiles were destroyed at a cost of $100m.
Local resident Sergei Donko told Russian television he had seen three missiles come down.
One exploded "like fireworks on 9 May [Victory Day in Russia] but... even worse", he added.
Another local man, Igor Kovalyov, said:
"They were really passing over our heads and we were guessing whether it would come to our house or not. Finally it landed here, causing a fire as a result."
Amateur video shows what appear to be at least two rockets zigzagging through a clear afternoon sky around the Lodeynoe Pole base near St Petersburg.
Unofficial sources say that at least 400 air-to-air rockets were damaged at a cost of about $82m (£41m).
The fire apparently began during repair work when workers were on a break.
Col-Gen Aleksandr Zelin, commander-in-chief of the Russian Air Force, confirmed a number of air-to-air-missiles had exploded in the fire.
Earlier, an air force spokesman, Col Alexander Drobyshevsky, denied that any rockets had taken to the air as a result of the incident.
'Like fireworks but worse'
An unnamed police source told Russia's Ria Novosti news agency that more than 400 of the missiles had been destroyed, at a total cost of at least $82m.
For its part, the Interfax news agency quoted an anonymous Russian security source as saying 450 missiles were destroyed at a cost of $100m.
Local resident Sergei Donko told Russian television he had seen three missiles come down.
One exploded "like fireworks on 9 May [Victory Day in Russia] but... even worse", he added.
Another local man, Igor Kovalyov, said:
"They were really passing over our heads and we were guessing whether it would come to our house or not. Finally it landed here, causing a fire as a result."
Cool footage if you follow the link.
I didn't think that!
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