A soldier in Crimea, a region annexed by Russia in 2014, opened fire in a sudden attack that left four people dead and several injured, officials confirmed.
The Moscow-appointed regional governor, Mikhail Razvozhayev, reported that the gunman first shot at fellow soldiers, killing one and wounding another. He then proceeded to kill three civilians in the village of Khmelnytske: two men aged 71 and 59, and a 64-year-old woman. Additionally, three others sustained injuries.
The attacker has been taken into custody, with authorities investigating the reasons behind the shooting. Details regarding his identity and the branch of the Russian armed forces he served with have not been disclosed.
Governor Razvozhayev appealed to the public to rely only on official updates to avoid spreading unverified information about the incident or the perpetrator’s motives. Medical teams are reportedly making every effort to save those wounded.
Context
- Russia annexed Crimea in 2014, a move widely rejected internationally as illegal occupation.
- The peninsula hosts a significant Russian military presence, which has been targeted by Ukrainian drone and missile attacks amid ongoing conflict.
