Russian mini-sub rescue mission

A multi-national mission involving ships from the Russian, Japanese and American navies is underway to rescue seven Russian sailors, trapped in a mini-submarine off the Kamchatka Peninsula:

The Priz submersible became caught in a fishing net and sank to a depth of 190m (620ft) off the Kamchatka peninsula.

[…] The vessel is too deep to allow the sailors to swim to the surface on their own, and another submersible is needed to release them.

Contact has apparently been established with the crew, and they are thought to have enough oxygen, food and water to survive for between one and four days - reports vary.  Varied reports,though, are what we have come to expect from the Russian navy after any incident of this kind - incidents which, to be honest, are far too frequent.

Despite the varied reports,though, the navy is optimistic of a successful outcome:

“The situation is unusual, but one should not overdramatise it,” Pacific Fleet spokesman Alexander Kosolapov told Rossiya television.

Update 6 August: Read my further reports on the rescue mission as it unfolded and the successful rescue of all seven crew.

Tagged as: Japan, Military, US-Russia relations