Funeral Held For 14 Russian Sailors Killed On Nuclear Submarine

Flowers were laid at the Soviet submarine K-21 (Picture: PA).

The funerals of 14 Russian navy officers who were killed in a fire on a nuclear-powered submarine in the Barrent Sea have been held in Saint Petersburg amid tight security.

The media were barred from attending and the gates of the cemetery were reportedly guarded by military police.

A defence official was quoted as saying that the identities of most of those attending were being kept secret.

The details of the tragedy have not been fully revealed as the deep-diving vessel is among Russia's most secret military projects.

The Defence Ministry said the sailors were killed by toxic fumes from the fire.

Some others survived the fire, but the military has not given their number.

Russia's defence minister Sergei Shoigu reported to Mr Putin that the vessel's nuclear reactor was not damaged by the fire and would be put back in service following repairs.

He did not name the ship, but Russian media reported it as the country's most secret submersible, the Losharik.

Russia's President Vladimir Putin has awarded the nation's highest honours to 14 seamen who died.

Mr Putin's decree published on Friday posthumously awarded four naval officers with the Hero of Russia medals and the others with the Order Of Courage.