| Russia is launching an investigation | | | | necessary to ask for foreign help. There |
| into the Navy's response to the | | | | are also questions as to how and why it |
| stranding of a mini-sub at the bottom of | | | | happened a second time. This month marks |
| the Pacific that was rescued Sunday with | | | | the five-year anniversary of the sinking |
| British help. The memory of the Kursk | | | | of the nuclear submarine Kursk with 118 |
| nuclear submarine accident five years | | | | hands on board. |
| ago, in which 118 people died is still | | | | Leading independent military analyst |
| fresh, and the government is drawing | | | | Pavel Felgenhauer tells VOA that, unlike |
| criticism for its handling of the | | | | in the Kursk tragedy, Russian officials |
| rescue. | | | | this time called for outside help in |
| Russian Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov | | | | time. But still, he says the main lesson |
| Monday visited the seven people who were | | | | of the Kursk has yet to be learned, and |
| rescued from the mini-sub Sunday, after | | | | that, he says, is that Russia must have |
| three days stranded on the ocean floor | | | | an adequate search and rescue service of |
| off Russia's far-eastern coast, and only | | | | its own. |
| hours, officials say, before they would | | | | "There was a lot of talk, but nothing |
| have run out of oxygen. | | | | really improved operationally," said Mr. |
| Mr. Ivanov commended the sailors for | | | | Felgenhauer. "Again, right now, there is |
| their bravery, and said the Russian Navy | | | | a lot of talk, but no one can be sure |
| would have all the technical equipment | | | | that this talk will transform into real, |
| and material it needs in the future. | | | | adequate action." |
| Later, addressing reporters in the | | | | Until that lesson is learned, Mr. |
| Russian Far East, he said President | | | | Felgenhauer adds, Russia will be, as he |
| Vladimir Putin had ordered a full-scale | | | | put it, "hopelessly helpless." He also |
| investigation of the incident off the | | | | said he holds out little hope for this |
| Kamchatka Peninsula. | | | | latest official probe. |
| In comments broadcast on Russian | | | | "The problem is, it's going to be a |
| television, Mr. Ivanov says the expert | | | | closed military investigation," he said. |
| commission will examine thoroughly the | | | | "We will not know what they determine. |
| actions of fleet forces and defense | | | | It will all be covered with a cloak of |
| ministry officials. He also said that | | | | secrecy. There will be no parliamentary |
| the Russian Navy's second-in-command, | | | | open inquiries, there will be nothing |
| Vladimir Masorin, would lead the | | | | really published, and, basically, I |
| investigation of how the small submarine | | | | believe, the navy and the military will |
| came to be trapped under water for three | | | | do their best to sort of sweep it all |
| days. | | | | under the carpet." |
| A British underwater rescue vehicle | | | | The Russian press was equally critical |
| helped lift the sub to the surface on | | | | Monday. The Gazeta daily said on its |
| Sunday, and all seven sailors on board | | | | front page that no one had learned the |
| were rushed to the hospital. There they | | | | lessons from the Kursk. The newspaper |
| were placed in cardiac care, due to | | | | went on to say that, only when the |
| hypothermia and hypoxia, and are | | | | situation was near critical, did the |
| expected to remain under close watch for | | | | navy's top leadership ask for outside |
| three days. | | | | help. |
| The sailors' close brush with death has | | | | "It wasn't our victory," wrote another |
| many in Russia asking why it was | | | | popular daily, Moskovsky Komsomolets. |