BOLDUAN: There are some very serious questions right now about what exactly happened in an explosion you're seeing here. An explosion that killed five employees of Russia's nuclear agency. The total casualty count, though, remains unclear at the moment. Federal and local officials there have also been issuing some conflicting statements since the blast last week, leaving U.S. officials racing to get a better handle and a better understanding of the mysterious explosion. Joining me right now with more, CNN Pentagon correspondent, Barbara Starr. Barbara, what are you hearing?</s>BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Well, good morning, Kate. A mysterious explosion, indeed, in northern Russia in the Arctic region last week. U.S. officials so far are not saying anything publicly about it. We talked to Norwegian nuclear authorities a short time ago. They told us that the Russians did tell them this explosion did have a small release of radiation they believed. But even those reports are very conflicting out of Russia. Apparently, upwards of five Russian workers died at the site. It is believed but not confirmed to be a site that deals in Russia's advanced nuclear missile program. So that is the big worry here. What kind of radiation was released, what failed here, and what kind of missile program are the Russians working on? The "New York Times" is reporting that it is a nuclear-tipped cruise missile that Vladimir Putin announced some months ago as one of his advanced weapons programs. That program is a very deep concern to the U.S. because if it ever worked, it would be a serious advanced capability in the future that could target the United States at great distances. So a lot of concern, but still a very big mystery -- Kate?</s>BOLDUAN: Absolutely. Barbara, thank you so much. I really appreciate it. Coming up, still ahead, Attorney General Bill Barr calling the circumstances around Jeffrey Epstein's death, his apparent suicide, calling them appalling. New details on the major breaks in protocol fueling the investigation now.
Officials Issue Conflicting Statements About Fatal Russian Explosion.