Serviceman in Russian-controlled Crimea kills 3 civilians and 1 soldier, officials say
A Russian military personnel stationed in Crimea opened fire on both soldiers and civilians, resulting in four deaths and four injuries, according to the Moscow-backed governor of Sevastopol. The incident occurred in Khmelnytske, a village located within Sevastopol, as stated by Governor Mikhail Razvozhayev, though the exact time of the attack was not disclosed.
The attacker first targeted fellow soldiers, killing one and wounding another. He then shifted his attention to civilians, killing three individuals and injuring a fourth. Razvozhayev noted the civilian casualties included two men aged 71 and 59, and one 64-year-old woman. Details about the suspect remain unclear, though he has been taken into custody by local authorities.
Crimea, a strategic area in the Black Sea, was taken over by Russia in 2014. Military forces in the region played a key role in early advances through southern Ukraine during the ongoing conflict. Ukraine has continued to disrupt Russian supply routes to Crimea, leading to critical fuel shortages in a region that relies heavily on tourism in the warmer months.
In a separate incident, a drone strike in an industrial area near Moscow killed five and injured ten people. Meanwhile, in southern Russia’s Krasnodar region, a drone exploded on a crowded beach, killing seven people. Governor Venyamin Kondratyev claimed Ukraine was responsible, but Ukraine has not publicly responded to the accusation. Drones have often malfunctioned in the conflict due to jamming efforts on both sides.
Razvozhayev described the shooting in Sevastopol as a