KHABAROVSK. Aug 28 (Interfax-AVN) - The command of the Far Eastern military district is planning to remove ammo storehouses further from military compounds and populated localities, district commander Army General Yuri Yakubov said on Thursday.
"Having summed up results of internal investigation into the fire in the Jewish autonomous republic, we are planning to move storehouses further from compounds and localities where it is possible," Yakubov told reporters.
Two officers were killed and three Ural trucks with ammunition were destroyed by the fire at an ammunition depot in the military unit stationed not far from the Babstovo village, 80km from Birobidzhan, the capital of the autonomous republic, on August 13.
According to Yakubov, investigators found out that two servicemen tried to steal petroleum from a Ural truck. A fire broke out at the depot, causing RUB8m (USD262,320) of damages, he said.
"The criminals are arrested. They are awaiting the deserved punishment that will be determined by court," Yakubov said.
A deputy commander of the unit and a company commander were killed by a blast when they tried to drive trucks with ammo out of the burning depot.