A single Russian soldier has, in the space of a few minutes, destroyed more high-tech Russian military hardware than the Chechen rebels have done during the entire war.
The mayhem began when Private Sergei Safonov went out on snow-plough duty at the military air base in Akhtyubinsk, in the Astrakhan province of southern Russia.
His job was to keep the runways clear for the multi-billion-rouble Sukhoi 24 front-line bombers which were the base's pride and joy.
By the time he was finished, the runways were clear but not in the manner in which the authorities intended.
Private Safonov became involved in something of an accident. His snow plough struck a Sukhoi 24 in the middle of its fuel tank, and the jet went on fire.
The winter wind which howls across the steppes at this time of year fanned the flames. Another Sukhoi 24 caught fire, and then a third.
Bombs stored at the air base were ignited by the flames, and a further 17 aircraft were threatened.
By the time the conflagration had ended, damage amounting to $50 million had been inflicted, according to the Russian news agency Interfax.
Military sources claimed the bill would be considerably less but would not set a price.
The Moscow daily newspaper Vremya was quick to proclaim Private Safonov a "hero of the Chechen people" in putting the sophisticated bombers out of action.
Awarding him this honour, the newspaper issued the following citation: "In a single day a Russian soldier has destroyed more planes than the Chechen fighters have done in the whole war."
The Russian military authorities were in no mood, however, for awards and citations. An official investigation is under way, and charges of criminal negligence are expected to be brought against the hapless soldier.
The Sukhoi 24, a highly-manoeuvrable aircraft, has been used daily in sorties against rebels in the Chechen capital, Grozny.
Two of the aircraft destroyed by Private Safonov were being prepared for an attack on the city.
The aircraft, which NATO has code-named "Fencer", is designed for low-level strike missions and has highly-sophisticated TV-guided weaponry.
There were believed to have been some 900 of the aircraft in existence before Private Safonov went to work.
