Russian navy chief warns nuclear ship could explode

Russia's navy chief said today that one of the nation's most powerful ships was in such dire condition that it could "explode" at any moment.

But the statement regarding the nuclear-powered Peter the Greathas been attributed in some quarters to infighting among naval top brass.

Admiral Vladimir Kuroyedov said that the massive cruiser had been badly maintained and could "explode any moment", adding that "it's especially dangerous because it has a nuclear reactor".

At the same time, Admiral Kuroyedov said that he had ordered the captain to fix the flagship in two weeks, casting doubt on the credibility of his alarmist statement.

"During that time, the captain must correct all the flaws related to the ship's maintenance," Admiral Kuroyedov said, according to the Interfax and ITAR-Tass news agencies.

The business daily Kommersanttoday reported Admiral Kuroyedov's decision to declare the Peter the Greatunfit for service and said it could have stemmed from his personal conflict with retired admiral Igor Kasatonov, uncle of the cruiser's captain, Rear Admiral Vladimir Kasatonov.

"Everything is all right on the ship where admirals walk, but in the areas where they don't, everything is in such condition that it may blow up at any moment," Admiral Kuroyedov was quoted as saying.

He ordered the measure after inspecting the ship, which is based in Murmansk, on exercise in the Barents Sea.

His statements were surprising because Peter the Great, the Northern Fleet's flagship, was officially named the best ship in the fleet last year.

AP