The Russian nuclear submarine Kursk sinks in the Barents Sea after explosions in its torpedo room, killing all 118 crew. The slow rescue and delay in accepting foreign help damage trust in the new Putin government.
Contested history
Consensus: Russian investigators found that leaking high-test peroxide fuel in a practice torpedo exploded and set off other warheads.
Faulty torpedo fuelEstablished
Prosecutors who examined the raised wreck blamed the peroxide propulsion system and lax safety.
Collision with a US or British submarineUnsupported
Russian officials floated it early, but prosecutors ruled it out after examining the wreck.
Rescue delays cost livesEstablished
Some sailors survived for hours in the stern, Russian rescue craft failed, and Norwegian divers opened the hatch only on 21 August.