RUSSIAN SOLDIERS IN KILLED IN ARMS DEPOT FIRE.

At least a dozen Russian soldiers and one fireman are reported dead following a fire at a Russian ammunition depot that broke out last week in the Sverdlovsk region of central Russia. The fire was reportedly ignited when lightning struck one arms storage facility on June 17 and explosions spread to other ammunition warehouses in the compound. The fire continued to smolder and isolated explosions were still being reported on June 19. (AP, Russian agencies, June 19) The incident and loss of life in the Sverdlovsk region is but the latest in a series of disasters, including a number of explosions at weapons depots, that have ripped the Russian military in recent years. Defense Ministry leaders attribute the problems to both severe budget shortfalls and a decline in the number and quality of recruits in the armed forces.

DUMA TAKES ANOTHER STEP TOWARD IMPEACHING PRESIDENT.