The explosion of a Zircon missile at a military base in Nyonoska is believed to have sparked a radiation leak: (Picture: 1tv.ru/Getty/Mash/East2West News)

Vladimir Putin’s latest weapons testing is being blamed for a suspected radiation leak.

It is believed the 6,000mph Zircon missile could have sparked the leak that was detected in the north western Russian city of Severodvinsk.

Two people died in the rocket engine explosion at a military range in Nyonoksa not far from the facility.

Video also emerged of wounded people arriving at a regional hospital in Arkhangelsk after the blast, but there has been no official explanation for the radiation levels going up.


Mass hysteria broke out in Severodvinsk amid fears of a radiation leakage and iodine tablets were said to have sold out in local stores.



One news agency reported iodine was unavailable in six local chemists after an ‘enormous rise’ in sales.

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Injured military personnel arrive at a hospital in Arkhanhelsk after the explosion at a military range (Picture: Mash/East2West News)

The military base in the small town of Nyonoska in the Arkhangelsk region where it is believed a top secret missile is being tested (Picture: AFP/Getty Images)

Iodine tablets are taken to prevent radioactive iodine entering the thyroid gland.

The Russian Defence Ministry said a total of six servicemen and civilian engineers were injured, and two of them later died.

The ministry denied that there had been a release of radioactivity or any toxic substances.

Sergey Dolgushin, who lives in Severodvinsk, said: ‘Usually if the authorities say that everything is okay it means the exact opposite.

‘This is exactly how they were lying to people at Chernobyl.’

Former Northern Fleet commander Admiral Vyacheslav Popov said: ‘Explosions at test sites are commonplace.

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The Zircon hypersonic missile is thought to have reached eight times the speed of sound (Picture: 1tv.ru)

‘They should be treated calmly as this was a test. A negative result is also a result.

‘In order for a missile to fly, you need to test all its components: engines, fuel – everything.’

The shark-nosed Zircon missile is thought to have been tested five times on land and capable of a speed of 1.7 miles per second.

The missile has reached eight times the speed of sound, according to reports.

Zircon is designed to be used against ships or land-based targets, and to enter production in two years time.

Russian military experts claim it could hit targets in the US in less than five minutes.

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