Russian National Guard line the streets of St Petersburg as the coffins of elite ‘hydronauts’ arrive

The Russian National Guard lined the streets of St Petersburg as the coffins of 14 elite officers who were killed in a fire on board a nuclear powered submarine made their way through the city. 

A convoy of minibuses carrying the coffins of the officers, known as ‘hydronauts’, made its way to private funerals for close friends, family and their comrades at Serafimovskoye cemetery on Saturday.

The officers, were members of a top secret underwater intelligence service called the deep-sea Spetsnaz, died after a fire broke on board the AS-12 nicknamed Losharik on July 1 in the Barents Sea. 

Navy serviceman and mourners were seen making their way to the memorial service carrying floral arrangements. 

There were emotional scenes from the family, close friends and comrades of the 14 elite officers who were killed in a fire on board a nuclear powered submarine attended the private funerals on Saturday

There was also emotional scenes outside the cemetery as grieving officers comforted each other. 

Russia has made clear full details of the latest submarine losses will not be made public for national security reasons. 

Moscow military analyst Colonel Viktor Baranets revealed that the fire broke out after some kind of ‘explosion’ while the vessel was almost 1,000ft underwater. 

Writing for the Komsomolskaya Pravda newspaper, he said the high-ranking sailors battled for an hour and a half to bring the blaze under control. 

The 'hydronauts', were members of a top secret underwater intelligence service called the deep-sea Spetsnaz, died after a fire broke on board the AS-12 nicknamed Losharik (pictured) on July 1 in the Barents Sea

The ‘hydronauts’, were members of a top secret underwater intelligence service called the deep-sea Spetsnaz, died after a fire broke on board the AS-12 nicknamed Losharik (pictured) on July 1 in the Barents Sea

Serviceman were also seen making their way to the funeral to honour the top secret underwater intelligence service called the deep-sea Spetsnaz

Serviceman were also seen making their way to the funeral to honour the top secret underwater intelligence service called the deep-sea Spetsnaz

A woman holding floral tributes crosses the road as the convoy of minibuses carrying the coffins of the officers makes its way to private funerals at St Petersburg Serafimovskoye cemetery

A woman holding floral tributes crosses the road as the convoy of minibuses carrying the coffins of the officers makes its way to private funerals at St Petersburg Serafimovskoye cemetery

Naval officers attend the private funerals to pay tribute to their fallen comrades

Naval officers attend the private funerals to pay tribute to their fallen comrades 

The blaze was so hot that crew members ‘had no time to use special breathing devices’.

Despite this the ‘selfless, decisive actions of the crew saved the submarine and ensured it was tugged to Severomorsk military base’.

The nuclear power unit on board was not damaged by the inferno and no leakage occurred, it is reported.

The Navy officers are seen making their way into the cemetery to pay their respects

The Navy officers are seen making their way into the cemetery to pay their respects 

Russia has made clear full details of the latest submarine loss, that claimed the lives of 14 elite officers, will not be made public for national security reasons

Russia has made clear full details of the latest submarine loss, that claimed the lives of 14 elite officers, will not be made public for national security reasons

Emotional mourners seen outside Serafimovskoye cemetery

Emotional mourners seen outside Serafimovskoye cemetery 

The blaze, which was not reported by the Kremlin until 24 hours later, has been a set back for the top secret operations service who relied on the skills of the highly qualified team for deep sea research, according to The Times. 

Losharik is like a submerged laboratory with data gathering equipment for the ocean and advanced systems capable of spying of foreign submarines and underwater communications, the publication reported.

President Vladimir Putin’s plans, as reported by the Pentagon white paper, are to turn the Arctic in an energy and minerals resource for Russia and to control sea routes, giving Moscow power in the region. 

Two officers from the Russian Navy bring rose standing sprays to the private service for the funerals of the 14 elite officers. Moscow military analyst Colonel Viktor Baranets revealed that the fire broke out after some kind of 'explosion' while the vessel was almost 1,000ft underwater

Two officers from the Russian Navy bring rose standing sprays to the private service for the funerals of the 14 elite officers. Moscow military analyst Colonel Viktor Baranets revealed that the fire broke out after some kind of ‘explosion’ while the vessel was almost 1,000ft underwater 

Writing for the Komsomolskaya Pravda newspaper, he said the high-ranking sailors battled for an hour and a half to bring the blaze under control.

Writing for the Komsomolskaya Pravda newspaper, he said the high-ranking sailors battled for an hour and a half to bring the blaze under control.

On July 1 the crew of a fishing boat witnessed a stricken Russian submarine make an emergency ascent right in front of them after it caught fire. 

The fishermen were sailing towards Kildin Island, in the Barents Sea, when they claimed to have seen the submarine surface around 9.30pm on Monday.

One crew member, who spoke anonymously because they were fishing illegally, described how men were running around on deck before a warship and two tugboats quickly pulled up alongside the submarine.

Speaking to SeverPost, the man said: ‘We were moving towards Kildin in the evening, and here, around 9.30pm, a submarine pops up.

‘It came up completely. I’ve never seen anything like it in my life. On the deck, people were running, scurrying around.’

Pulling into an isolated bay, the crew of the fishing boat watched the rescue operation for around an hour and a half until the rescue boats moved away.

The fisherman added that the submarine moved away quickly, apparently under its own power, and they did not see any smoke.

The submarine and its escort sailed into the nearby Kola Bay towards Severomorsk, where it is currently docked.

It was only later that the fishermen heard that bodies had been brought ashore.  

In total 14 submariners died in the fire, which Moscow says started in a battery compartment before quickly spreading. 

Russia has named the 14 men who died in the accident, but otherwise the accident has been cloaked in secrecy. 

President Putin also bestowed top state honours on all of the men – including four who were given the Hero of Russia, the country’s most prestigious honour.

The other ten men will be posthumously awarded the Order of Courage.  

‘All of them will be buried in secret, at the request of their family members,’ reported Fontanko news service.

‘Only close friends, family members and comrades will be at the funerals.’

In previous cases of major Russian national disasters, funerals have often been held in public.

It had been reported earlier this week’s victims would be buried close to the dead from the stricken Kursk submarine which was lost in 2000. 

The crew said men were running around on deck before the sub was joined by a warship and two tugboats. They didn't see any smoke, and only learned later about the fire and the fact that 14 submariners (pictured) had died

The crew said men were running around on deck before the sub was joined by a warship and two tugboats. They didn’t see any smoke, and only learned later about the fire and the fact that 14 submariners (pictured) had died 

Barenets, a retired officer who is a respected analyst, echoed reports today citing Vladimir Putin that the fire ignited in the vessel’s battery compartment.

But citing his own sources he said it has been caused by a short circuit and involved an ‘explosion’.

‘According to preliminary information obtained by the special commission (investigating the accident), the reason of the emergency was a short circuit in the power system of the (submarine) that caused a fire in the room for accumulating batteries,’ he wrote.

‘When the concentration of hydrogen here is over three percent, an explosion followed by a fire occurs.

‘This is what happened. The fire developed ‘at hurricane speed’. 

‘That is why some members of the crew had no time to use special breathing devices. The masks were simply melting. 

‘And even in these conditions, the badly burned submariners were rescuing each other.’

After around an hour and a half the crew said the submarine seemed to move away under its own power towards the port of Severomorsk (pictured, Putin at the port in 2014)

After around an hour and a half the crew said the submarine seemed to move away under its own power towards the port of Severomorsk (pictured, Putin at the port in 2014)

Barenets said that the members of the crew are expected to be honoured for their actions when the vessel was hit by fire.

The dead will be honoured posthumously, he said.

‘All the submariners, both perished and survivors, will be awarded with Order of Courage,’ he wrote.

‘One member of the crew will be recommended for the award of Hero of Russia.’

Two of those killed in the incident were already Heroes of Russia – the country’s highest award.

Russia has named the fatalities as:

Reports say Solovyev rescued a ‘civilian expert’ on board the submarine.

The civilian left the burning section of the vessel and the crew member shut the hatch behind him and stayed in alongside other crew members ‘fighting to save the vessel’, said the defence ministry.

Solovyev was 37, and he left behind a pregnant wife and three year old son, say reports.

The top-secret submarine is now docked at Severomorsk, though Moscow has revealed little else (pictured, a submarine at the port on Tuesday. It is not clear if this is the submarine that caught fire)

The top-secret submarine is now docked at Severomorsk, though Moscow has revealed little else (pictured, a submarine at the port on Tuesday. It is not clear if this is the submarine that caught fire)

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