A Russian conscript serving in the Far East of the country shot dead eight other soldiers and badly injured two others on Friday after having a nervous breakdown, the Defense Ministry said, Interfax reported.

The conscript has been detained, the ministry said, and the two injured troops are being treated in a military hospital. Their lives are not in danger.

The incident occurred at a military facility in the Far East of the country in the Zabaikalsk region.

The Defense Ministry statement reported by Interfax did not say why the conscript had suffered a nervous breakdown, but said the shooting had occurred at a time when the guard was being changed at the base. 

Russia’s Investigative Committee identified the conscript as Ramil Shamsutdinov and said he now faces criminal charges.

(C)MOSCOW TIMES 2019