Moscow: Russia Army has banned the use of
incendiary immunition and tracer bullets during the routine
summer drills to prevent fires in the forests and dry fields
as the country reels under the scorching heat wave.
"Additional security measures... are being taken by
the Russian Army in view of steep rise in temperature...
tracer, incendiary and illumination munitions have been
temporarily prohibited during military training exercises,"
Army spokesman Col Oleg Yushkov said.
The military personnel are not allowed to stay in
direct sunlight for long time and have been provided with
additional drinking water, he said.
"The dress code has been eased due to the hot weather:
sleeves of combat camouflage may be rolled up to the elbows
and the upper buttons may be unbuttoned," Col Yushkov was
quoted as saying by RIA Novosti.
The army has also cancelled cross-country marches to
protect the soldiers from sun strokes.
In Moscow for the second week the commandant of the
Kremlin has cancelled the weekly ceremony of the change of
mounted presidential guards on Saturday, which used to attract
hundreds of visitors.
"The horses and men as well the visitors are unable to
bear such heat under the direct sun on the stone covered
square," a Kremlin spokesman told Rossiya 24 TV.
According to latest forecasts over the weekend the
temperature would rise in Moscow to 38 degrees Celsius, while
in the neighbouring regions, worst affected by drought it
would cross the 40-degree mark.
Russia`s Traffic Police chief, General Kiriyanov has
advised motorists to keep of the road since the asphalt
covered roads emit hazardous substances due to unusual heat,
which could be injurious to their health, while standing in
the traffic jams.
In Moscow the roads are sprinkled with cold water
every three hours to prevent formation of ruts in the molten
road surfaces.
PTI
