Three dead, 16 hurt in ammo blast in Russian region near Ukraine - Reuters.com

Jan 15 (Reuters) - An ammunition detonation caused by "careless" handling of a grenade successful Russia's Belgorod portion connected the borderline with Ukraine killed 3 soldiers and injured 16, Russian quality agencies reported connected Sunday.

The blast occurred successful a taste centre repurposed for Russia's equipped forces to store ammunition, authorities quality agencies reported, citing section exigency services for the toll.

Another 8 work unit were inactive reported missing arsenic of Sunday evening, the Interfax quality bureau reported.

"As a effect of the unintentional detonation of a manus grenade by a sergeant successful a dormitory ... a occurrence broke out. Sixteen servicemen, including the culprit, person been taken to hospital. Three much died," section exigency services said successful a connection cited by quality agencies.

The TASS quality bureau said section officials said "careless handling" of the grenade caused it to explode.

The 112 and Baza Telegram channels, linked to Russia's instrumentality enforcement agencies, said the dormant and injured were conscripts called up to combat successful Ukraine nether a mobilization drive.

Reports did not accidental erstwhile the incidental took place.

The Belgorod portion borders the northeast of Ukraine, wherever the metropolis of Kharkiv has been targeted by aggregate Russian rocket attacks since the penetration of Ukraine past February.

In October a gunman opened occurrence astatine 1 of the respective subject bases successful the Belgorod region, sidesplitting 11 soldiers.

Fuel and ammunition stores determination person besides been rocked by explosions successful what Moscow said were Ukrainian attacks. Kyiv, without claiming responsibility, has described them arsenic "karma" for Russia's invasion.

Reporting by Jake Cordell Editing by Mark Heinrich, Andrew Cawthorne and Philippa Fletcher

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