Russian soldier opens fire at military base, killing eight servicemembers

A soldier serving his mandatory term in the Russian military opened fire on his fellow servicemembers October 25. The shooting took place at a base in the Zabaikalsky region town of Gorny, Defense Ministry officials told Interfax.

Eight soldiers were killed in the shooting, and two others were hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries. TASS wrote that some of the victims were also non-career soldiers who were completing mandatory, short-term service like the shooter.

The outlet Chita.ru reported that the shooting began while the soldiers were changing guard. The perpetrator has been arrested, but his name has not been revealed to the press. Defense Ministry officials said the soldier may have suffered a nervous breakdown due to personal circumstances unrelated to his military service.