Russian Soldier’s Shooting Spree in Crimea Leaves Four Dead

On August 4, a soldier stationed in the Russian-occupied Crimean city of Sevastopol opened fire on his fellow servicemen and then on civilians in the village of Khmelnytske. The attacker killed one fellow soldier and three civilians—a 71-year-old man, a 59-year-old man, and a 64-year-old woman—and wounded four others, including another soldier. The gunman was detained by authorities, and an investigation was launched.

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Crimea was annexed by Russia in 2014, a move that the United Nations General Assembly and the majority of the international community continue to regard as illegal. Since the annexation, Russia has maintained a heavy military presence on the Black Sea peninsula, using it as a logistical hub for its 2022 invasion of Ukraine. In recent months, Ukrainian forces have intensified drone and missile strikes against Russian assets in Crimea, leading to fuel shortages and heightened security concerns for both military personnel and civilians.

United Press International (UPI)

• Fatalities: 4 (one soldier, three civilians) – reported by the regional governor.

United24 Media

• Injured: 4 (including one soldier) – reported by the regional governor.

Moscow Times

• Ages of civilian victims: 71, 59, and 64 years – identified by the governor.

Russian soldier kills four in gun rampage targeting his own colleagues and civilians in Crimea

Mikhail Razvozhayev, the Moscow-installed governor of the Sevastopol region, posted on Telegram that “All circumstances and causes of the incident are being established” and urged residents to remain calm and rely only on official information. He also emphasized that “Emergency medical care is currently being provided to the injured, and doctors are doing everything possible to save them.” Razvozhayev confirmed that the shooter had been arrested and that investigators and forensic experts were on the scene.

Reuters

• Identity of the shooter: The Moscow Times cited the exile-run outlet Agentstvo, which claimed the gunman was 21-year-old Maxim Alistratov from Saratov. This identification could not be independently verified, and other outlets did not provide a name.

Russian soldier kills four in gun rampage targeting his own colleagues and civilians in Crimea

• Motive: No official motive has been disclosed; all statements describe the motive as “under investigation.”

Russian soldier kills four in gun rampage targeting his own colleagues and civilians in Crimea

• “All circumstances and causes of the incident are being established.” — Mikhail Razvozhayev, Moscow-installed regional governor

United Press International (UPI)

• “Emergency medical care is currently being provided to the injured, and doctors are doing everything possible to save them,” — Mikhail Razvozhayev, Moscow-installed regional governor

United Press International (UPI)

• “A tragedy in Sevastopol...According to initial information, a soldier opened fire on his fellow servicemen, killing one person, before attacking civilians and killing three of them,” — Mikhail Razvozhayev, Moscow-installed regional governor

Euronews