Russian President Mr Vladimir Putin said today that a "thorough" investigation would be carried out into the sinking of a nuclear-powered submarine in the Barents Sea, Russian news agencies reported.
Itar-Tass news agency quoted Mr Putin, speaking on board a Russian cruiser off Sardinia where he is on a visit, as saying: "A thorough investigation will be carried out."
Mr Putin, who suffered badly in political fall-out from the sinking of the Kursk nuclear submarine three years ago, said: "Of course, all reasons for the tragedy will be established."
A ministry spokesman said at least two servicemen were killed in the incident, which happened during a storm, but he said the nuclear reactor on board had already been switched off as part of the decommissioning of the vessel.
The reactor was switched off and the weapons had already been removed," a spokesman for the navy said.
The 40-year-old submarine, the K-159, was taken out of service in 1989 at the end of its natural life and was being taken to a dismantling base at Polyarny for destruction when the incident occurred at midnight Irish time.
There were 10 crew on board at the time. "There was a big storm and part of the submarine broke away and it sank," a defence ministry spokesman said.
A defence ministry official said only one crewmember had been rescued up to now, but an air and sea operation was continuing.
The vessel went down five km northwest of Kildin Island in the Barents sea and was lying at a depth of 170 metres, Itar-Tass news agency quoted Northern Fleet officials as saying.