(Recasts with confirmation from Russian Navy commander)

MOSCOW, January 7 (RIA Novosti) - A sailor was killed in a fire on board the Admiral Kuznetsov aircraft carrier anchored off Turkey late on Tuesday, the Russian Navy commander said on Wednesday.

"The fire on board the aircraft carrier was extinguished by the crew itself, and no Turkish assistance was required," Adm. Vladimir Vysotsky said.

The Admiral Kuznetsov is visiting Turkey with a group of Northern Fleet warships, which have been holding naval exercises in the Mediterranean since the start of 2009.

According to preliminary reports, the fire was caused by a short-circuit, and the sailor was killed by carbon monoxide poisoning. "The circumstances of the incident are being established," a Russian Defense Ministry source said.

The incident did not affect any technical systems on board the warship, the source said.

He added that up to 90% of shipboard fires around the globe were caused by electrical malfunctions.