In brief
A soldier operating in the Russian‑occupied Crimea reportedly opened fire on fellow troops and then struck civilians in the village of Khmelnytske, killing four and injuring several others. The gunman was detained and his motives are under investigation. Moscow‑installed governor Mikhail Razvozhayev urged the public to rely on official sources and not spread unverified rumours. The incident has drawn attention to the persistent tensions around Crimea, a territory Russia has controlled since 2014 while the international community largely considers it an occupied part of Ukraine. Russia’s large military presence there has been targeted by Ukrainian drone and missile strikes.
Four people were killed in a short‑lived gun rampage carried out by a soldier in the Russian‑occupied Crimea.
Governor Mikhail Razvozhayev reported that the gunman first fired on his fellow soldiers, killing one and wounding another.
Afterward the attacker moved to the village of Khmelnytske and shot three civilians – a 71‑year‑old man, a 59‑year‑old man and a 64‑year‑old woman – before the police detained him.
It is still unclear which branch of the Russian armed forces the soldier belongs to, and authorities say the motive is under investigation.
Doctors are treating the injured, and officials urged the public to accept only official information, warning against spreading unverified rumours.
Crimea, ceded by Ukraine in 2014, remains under Russian control and is the focus of an ongoing occupation dispute between Russia and the international community.
Russia maintains a substantial military presence there, which Ukraine has targeted with drone and missile strikes over the years.
