MOSCOW. July 26 (Interfax-AVN) - Eighteen different versions of what could have caused the Kursk disaster were examined during the investigation into the nuclear submarine tragedy, Russian Prosecutor General Vladimir Ustinov told a news conference in Moscow on Friday.
The most popular versions included a collision with a Russian or foreign submarine or ship, a torpedo attack from a Russian or foreign submarine ship, a subversive act, a terrorist attack, a collision with a WWII-era mine and an accident involving the weapons abroad Kursk.
"During the investigation, all of the working versions were thoroughly examined, extensive information was collected about the sub and its technical condition, the preparedness of the crew and the sub, the weapons aboard the sub, the preparations for and the course of the training, the circumstances of the catastrophe, its consequences and the subsequent rescue operation," Ustinov said.
In addition, evidence was studied during the investigation, some of which was provided by Great Britain, South Africa and Norway.
"The process of this investigation and the Kursk disaster itself are unique," Ustinov said. Earlier, Russia had no experience of investigating such accidents at sea, he said. The prosecutor general said he is convinced that this experience is also unique in terms of global investigation practices in man-made catastrophes.