In brief
A Russian soldier opened fire on fellow troops and then on civilians in the village of Khmelnytske, killing four people and injuring several others. The incident, described by Moscow‑installed governor Mikhail Razvozhayev, is being investigated with no information released about the soldier’s service branch. Local officials urge residents to rely on official information and avoid spreading rumours. Crimea remains under Russian control since 2014, but the international community views it as an occupied Ukrainian territory. The event underscores the tense security environment amid ongoing military operations in the region.
Four killed in a rogue Russian soldier’s sudden gun rampage in Crimea
In a violent incident in the village of Khmelnytske, a Russian soldier first shot a fellow serviceman, fatally wounding him, then turned the weapon on three local residents – two men aged 71 and 59, and a 64‑year‑old woman – killing all four. Three more people sustained injuries.
Mikhail Razvozhayev, the governor installed by Moscow, said the attacker was immediately detained and that police are now investigating the motive. The soldier’s identity and which branch of the armed forces he belonged to have not yet been disclosed, and officials have asked the public to focus on verified information rather than unconfirmed rumours.
Crimea has been under Russian control since 2014, a move widely regarded by the international community as an occupation of Ukrainian territory. The area hosts a sizeable Russian military presence that Ukraine has repeatedly targeted with drone and missile strikes.
The incident highlights the precarious security environment in the region and raises concerns about command and safety protocols within the occupying forces.
