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Russian President Dmitry Medvedev sacked on Tuesday a number of high-ranking officers after two explosions at an arms depot in the city of Ulyanovsk, in Russia's Volga region.
Ten people were killed and dozens injured in separate explosions on November 13 and 23 at the Arsenal 31 arms depot, which belongs to the Russian Caspian Sea Fleet.
The list of those released from duty includes the chief of the Engineer Troops (Yu. P. Balkhovitin), the head of the Main Missile and Artillery Directorate (O. Chikirev), the deputy commander of the Volga and Ural Military District for armaments (V. G. Khalitov), and the acting commander of the Engineer Troops (Col. A. A. Bobrakov).
The November 13 explosions are believed to have occurred while ammunition was being dismantled at the depot. Two naval personnel were killed at the depot.
Six unexploded artillery shells were later found in the vicinity of the depot. More than 1,000 local residents were evacuated from the area.
The November 23 explosion occurred when ammunition was being loaded into a truck. Eight servicemen were killed in the incident.
A Defense Ministry team is currently investigating the incident. Russia's prosecutor general is overseeing the investigation.
ULYANOVSK, November 24 (RIA Novosti)
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