VLADIMIR Putin last night called an urgent meeting with defence chiefs after 14 sailors died in a mystery submarine blast.

The Russian leader cleared his schedule for a meeting with his defence minister Sergei Shoigu following the tragedy.

5 Putin held an emergency meeting with his defence chief after the deaths of 14 sailors on a Russian submarine Credit: AP:Associated Press

It came as US Vice President Mike Pence was called back to Washington for an "undisclosed emergency".

The announcements came at exactly the same time but it is not clear if the two are linked.

The White House and the Kremlin would not say the reason for the change of plans.

The fire on board a Russian submarine left 14 dead after they were poisoned by fumes.

'NUCLEAR POWERED'

It has now been reported the vessel was a type of nuclear-powered submarine whose designs and capabilities have been the subject of speculation and interest in the West for years.

Numerous Russian outlets say the craft was an AS-12 submarine, capable of diving to an estimated 6,100 as well as attaching itself to the belly of larger subs to avoid detection, RFERL reports.

The AS-12, nicknamed Losharik, has been described by the Pentagon as a “sabotage vehicle” capable of destroying underwater communications cables.

Norwegian authorities said on Tuesday they had not detected abnormally high levels of radiation in the area.

He said Russian officials had told his agency that a gas explosion took place on board the submarine.

Russia denied this piece of information later on Tuesday.

The @VP never left Washington, DC. There was no “emergency callback.” Something came up that required the VP to stay in DC. We’ll reschedule NH shortly. https://t.co/h270JCEUIG — Devin O’Malley (@VPPressSec) July 2, 2019

An investigation is underway into the incident on board the vessel, which was based out of the Northern Fleet main port of Severomorsk in Murmansk.

Mr Putin told his defence minister to fly to Severomorsk and to thoroughly investigate the reasons for the fire, according to the Russian state-run news agency TASS.

Mr Putin said: "I ask you to fly to Severomorsk in order to personally listen to the reports and to aim the commission to get to the bottom of the causes of the tragedy."

He told Mr Shoigu to report to him personally on his return.



INVESTIGATION LAUNCHED

Mr Putin added: "I offer my sincerest condolences to the families of those killed.

"Everything possible must be done to help and support them."

The deep-sea research vessel was carrying out a military survey in Russian territorial waters.

The ministry's statement said the submersible is intended for studying the seabed, but didn't give its name or type.

Authorities haven't given a cause for the fire, saying that an official investigation has started.

Of the 14 dead, seven held the rank of captain, first class, and two were holders of the Hero of Russia - the highest military award issued in the post-World War Two period.

5 Fourteen men have died following a fire on a Russian submarine in Murmansk

In the deadliest naval incident in post-Soviet Russia, the Kursk nuclear submarine exploded and sank on August 12, 2000, during naval manoeuvres in the Barents Sea, killing all 118 crew members.

The Russian Defence Ministry reported: "On July 1, a fire broke out in Russian territorial waters on a research deep-water apparatus designed to study the bottom space and the bottom of the World Ocean in the interests of the Russian Navy.

"During the biometric measurements, 14 submariners died as a result of burning with poisoned products."

"The causes of the incident are established. The investigation is conducted by the Commander-in-Chief of the Navy."



PENCE MYSTERY

In the US, Air Force 2, carrying Mike Pence, 60, was said to have been turned around and returned to Washington.

“There’s been an emergency callback,” Randy Gentry, a representative from Pence’s office, told the crowd.

“The vice president was asked to return to Washington so at this time we’re going to cancel today’s event.”

A White House spokesman said: “Something came up that requires the VP to remain in DC. There is no cause for concern.”

However Alyssa Farah, Mike Pence's spokeswoman, later denied there was ever an "emergency callback" and stated that Mr Pence never left Washington.

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In a Twitter message she wrote: "The @VP never left Washington DC. There was no 'emergency callback'.

"Something came up that required the VP to stay in DC. We'll reschedule NH [New Hampshire] shortly."

Pence was due to take part in a roundtable discussion in Salem with former patients and others at the Granite Recovery Centre, an addiction treatment facility, on the drug crisis before flying back to Washington.

5 Mike Pence is said to have remained in Washington DC Credit: AFP or licensors

5 Putin met with his defence minister before ordering a full inquiry into the disaster Credit: AFP

5 Mike Pence, right, and Vladimir Putin, met in November 2018 at the 33rd Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Credit: Getty - Contributor