11 Sailors Killed in Kursk Buried

Eleven of the Russian sailors who died aboard the nuclear submarine Kursk were buried Saturday, their bodies interred after more than a year in the vessel’s twisted wreckage on the sea floor.

Snow fell on the coffins draped with the Russian naval flag--a blue cross on a white field--and on the heavy winter uniforms of honor guards at the Serafimov cemetery in St. Petersburg, a city that once symbolized Russia’s naval might.

All 118 crewmen were killed when the Kursk was rocked by two powerful explosions and sank in the Barents Sea during military exercises Aug. 12, 2000.

Authorities have identified 56 of the bodies recovered from the Kursk since it was raised and brought to dry dock last month. Two of the 12 sailors whose bodies were recovered a year ago also lie in the Serafimov cemetery.

The risky and expensive operation to raise most of the submarine’s hull was seen by some as an attempt to refute criticism of the government’s response, which appeared slow and confused.

Many relatives of victims said it was important to them to be able to bury their sons.

Vladimir Mityayev, whose son Alexei was buried Saturday, said that when he identified the body, “my wife and I both felt that the weight which had hung on our souls for a year fell right off.”

Before the bodies were taken to the cemetery, a long line of mourners passed the coffins as they stood in the St. Petersburg Naval Institute, where the funeral was held.