SpaceDaily.com reports: “Russia’s nuclear agency chief on Monday confirmed that five scientists killed last week were developing ‘new weapons’ and vowed to continue testing despite the explosion.

The accident took place at an Arctic military facility on the coast of the White Sea on Thursday, but Russian authorities only admitted its nuclear nature on Saturday.

The explosion caused a spike in radiation levels.

US experts have said it could be linked to testing of the ‘Burevestnik’ cruise missile, touted by President Vladimir Putin earlier this year.

As a memorial service was held for the scientists on Monday, the head of nuclear agency Rosatom said their efforts would continue.

‘The best (thing) for their memory will be our further work on the new weapons,’ Alexei Likhachev was quoted as saying by Russian news agencies.

‘We are fulfilling the task of the motherland, its security will be reliably ensured.’…”