Russian cruise missile slams into building, no one hurt–ministry

In this undated file photo a Russian S-300 anti-aircraft missile system is on display at an undisclosed location in Russia. Russia’s defense ministry said one of its cruise missile slammed into a building during a failed military exercise. AP

MOSCOW, Russia — A Russian cruise missile launched as part of a failed military exercise fell on a residential building on Tuesday, the defense ministry said, adding that no one was hurt.

The missile, which was being tested, “deviated from its trajectory and fell close to the little town of Nyonoksa”, nearly 1,000 kilometres (600 miles) north of Moscow, the ministry said in a statement to AFP.

Investigators are probing the incident.

While there were no casualties, the missile crash did start a fire, damaging all four flats in a two-storey building in the town, according to a source who spoke on condition of anonymity and local media reports cited by TASS news agency.

An experimental surface-to-air missile in April crashed on launch in the same northern region of Arkhangelsk.