Three contract servicemen were killed Monday during naval exercises in Russia's Far East, the Defense Ministry said in a statement.
The men were taking part in a training exercise 300 meters from the southern tip of Sakhalin Island on Monday when an armored vehicle containing 10 servicemen was swept off a landing ship by a large wave.
Seven of the men inside managed to vacate the sinking vehicle, but three drowned. The Defense Ministry has posthumously nominated them for state awards and said they died helping the others leave the armored vehicle.
More than 3,000 troops, up to 30 ships and about 20 aircraft and helicopters are taking part in the naval component of Vostok 2014 military exercises, which continue through Thursday, the ministry said.
In October 2013, six paratroopers were killed in an accidental explosion at a training base in western Russia. (MT)
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