Lieutenant-Colonel Roman Vik and Lieutenant Sergei Kostyrev were taking a vehicle full of munitions out of the blazing depot when four other vehicles blew up, killing the officers on the spot, Itar-Tass quoted the ministry as saying.

Five other soldiers were injured by the blasts which lasted an hour at the military base in the autonomous Jewish republic of Birobizhan.

Emergency services were rushed to the scene.

The cause of the fire was unknown.

WAR.WIRE