Two Sailors Suffered in Firing Drill Discharged from Hospital

28.08.2012 Two crewmen of Baltic Fleet (BF) training ship Perekop earlier injured in the accident are currently discharged from the Military Medical Academy, the hospital's inquiry office told Central Navy Portal.

Conscript sailors Nikolai Sapunov and Andrei Puishis on Aug 24 were discharged from the academy's clinic and sent back to the ship based in Kronshtadt. In the next few days, they will be granted a 2-week leave.

Two other sailors also suffered in the accident are still under treatment in the field surgery clinic. At present, their health status is assessed as satisfactory.

Recall that the incident occurred on board training ship Perekop on July 31, 2012 during gun firing drill in the Baltic Sea. Five sailors happened on the top deck were injured by fragments of 30-mm shell which hit a portside boat davit. The ship's medical officer promptly rendered first medical aid to all sufferers. A motorboat called from Kronshtadt brought the injured personnel to a hospital. Head wound became lethal to a 20-year old Nikita Mitrofanov, and the sailor died in the ambulance car.

Military procuracy initiated a criminal case in accordance with Article 349/2, Russian Criminal Code (violation of arms handling rules led to grievous consequences).

Main person suspected in the incident is the ship's commanding officer Capt 2 Rank Sergei Bor who failed to stand the stress and fell to a hospital in pre-infarction state right after the tragedy.