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Russian soldier shoots dead eight fellow servicemen | Russian soldier shoots dead eight fellow servicemen |
(about 1 hour later) | |
A Russian serviceman has shot dead eight fellow soldiers and seriously injured two more on a military base in the country's Far East, officials say. | |
Private Ramil Shamsutdinov - who has been detained - might have been suffering from mental health problems, they say. | |
The shooting happened in the military unit No. 54160 in the village of Gorny, not far from the city of Chita, on Friday evening. | |
A murder investigation is under way. | |
What is known about the shooting? | |
The shooting happened at 18:15 local time (11:15 GMT), Russia's Investigative Committee said. | |
The defence ministry earlier said that shots were fired during a change of guard at the base in the Transbaikal region. | |
Mr Shamsutdinov, a conscript, killed two officers and six fellow soldiers. | |
Russian media report that the suspect was targeting his victims in the head. | |
A special commission led by Deputy Defence Minister Andrey Kartapolov is flying to the region to investigate the shooting. | A special commission led by Deputy Defence Minister Andrey Kartapolov is flying to the region to investigate the shooting. |
The military unit No. 54160 houses an artillery brigade and a missile brigade. It has Iskander missiles, which are capable of carrying nuclear warheads. | |
Military service is mandatory in Russia for all male citizens aged 18-27. They typically serve 12 months, and can then sign a professional contract to continue in the armed forces. | Military service is mandatory in Russia for all male citizens aged 18-27. They typically serve 12 months, and can then sign a professional contract to continue in the armed forces. |
In the mid-2000s, rights groups reported widespread violence and bullying - known as "dedovshchina" - against new conscripts in the Russian armed forces. | In the mid-2000s, rights groups reported widespread violence and bullying - known as "dedovshchina" - against new conscripts in the Russian armed forces. |
But in recent years, Russia has prided itself for modernising the military and rooting out bullying. | But in recent years, Russia has prided itself for modernising the military and rooting out bullying. |