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Tragic Incident: Russian Soldier Fatally Shoots Comrade and Then Takes His Own Life

Tragic Incident: Russian Soldier Fatally Shoots Comrade and Then Takes His Own Life

A Russian soldier shot and killed a fellow serviceman before taking his own life with a self-inflicted gunshot wound in the Moscow region during the night, as reported by military authorities on Friday.

According to state news agencies, the Defense Ministry’s Moscow Military District indicated that the serviceman breached weapon safety protocols, resulting in the fatal shooting of a contract soldier while stationed at a lookout post.

An investigative commission from the Aerospace Forces has been dispatched to the location to examine the circumstances of the incident, which has prompted the opening of a criminal investigation.

Earlier reports from media suggested that as many as five individuals may have sustained injuries during the shooting.

The broadcaster Ren TV, citing an unnamed source, stated that one of the injured soldiers managed to reach out to his mother, prompting her to alert the medical personnel and police to the military unit. The soldier was subsequently taken to the hospital in critical condition.

Meanwhile, the pro-Kremlin newspaper Izvestia, also referring to an anonymous source, reported that the shooting incident occurred in Naro-Fominsk, a suburb located 80 kilometers (50 miles) southwest of Moscow.

Both news outlets have stated that the assailant was a conscript, but no motive for the act has been provided.

Details regarding the identities and ranks of both the shooter and the victim remain undisclosed.

Official sources have not yet verified the number of injured individuals or the specific military branch to which the unit belongs.

Naro-Fominsk is known to host an anti-aircraft missile brigade as part of the Russian Ground Forces, alongside training facilities for newly drafted conscripts who later join various divisions of the Aerospace Forces.

Incidents of gunfire within Russian military barracks are not rare, as the armed forces have been historically troubled by issues of bullying and hazing.

The Russian military has denied allegations of a hazing culture, asserting that it has eliminated the bullying practices that had been prevalent over the years.

In 2019, a tragic incident occurred when a 19-year-old conscript fired upon a military base in Siberia, resulting in the deaths of eight soldiers, including two officers. He was sentenced to 24 years in prison and described his time in military service as “hell,” citing regular abuse.

Since its invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022, Russia has significantly expanded its military forces, recruiting hundreds of thousands of contract soldiers and increasing pay along with offering substantial signing bonuses.

In addition, Moscow conducted a forced mobilization of around 300,000 reservists in the autumn of 2022 after facing setbacks in its efforts to seize Ukraine.

President Vladimir Putin mentioned last month that over 700,000 Russian troops are currently engaged in combat in Ukraine.

Reporting by AFP contributed to this information.

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‘Plush Troops’: The Pro-War Children’s Toys Taking Over Russia’s Online Marketplaces Текст: “In this strategy game, you lead a battalion aiming to liberate Ukraine from Nazi rule,” reads the description of Russia’s first board game about the war in Ukraine. The game,called“Special Operation on the Outskirts,” sells for about 1,600 rubles ($20) on Russian online marketplaces. Inspired by Monopoly and designed for two to six players, the game challenges participants to occupy as many Ukrainian cities as possible. Instead of Monopoly money, players use a fictional currency featuring the faces of President Vladimir Putin, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and former General Sergei Surovikin. In the fourth year of the full-scale invasion, toys and merchandise featuring the pro-war Z symbol have become increasingly common on Russian marketplaces and social media. Listings include everything from car dashboard decorations to toy soldiers for children. “The plot grabs you from the first minutes. It’s great that part of the proceeds go to support participants of the special military operation. The perfect gift for patriots!”writesYekaterina, a recent buyer. Other reviewers share that they gave the game to their sons on Defenders of the Fatherland Day. Another board game, “Couch Expert,” promises to educate players about the invasion. Players have 30 seconds to answer questions about the progress of the “special operation.” Questions range from the late ultranationalist politician Vladimir Zhirinovsky’s position on the war to the roles of figures like Elon Musk and propagandist Olga Skabeyeva in shaping сoverage of the invasion. “I ordered 11 of them for school as gifts for the boys. But I got lucky — the boxes came wrapped in film, so it’s not embarrassing to give them. Thanks,”writesa woman named Natalia in a review. These toys span all price ranges, from an acrylic Z-minionto aroly-polytoy bearing the pro-war slogan “You can’t knock us down.” The latter sells for about 500 rubles ($6). “The idea to create a patriotic roly-poly toy came five years ago, when the Russian team was banned from competing under the national flag at the Olympics in Korea,”saysDmitry Zavidov, director of the Kotovsky Roly-Polies company. On VKontakte, Yulia from Moscowsells“knitted fighters” shaped like a tiger, mouse or dog. Each animal, stitched with a Z or V,costs1,500 rubles ($18). For an extra 250 rubles, Yulia offers to embroider a soldier’s callsign on the toy’s flak vest. “Any other inscription of your choice is also possible (price depends on the size),”readsthe product description. On some marketplaces, similar toys arepricedat around 1,100 rubles ($14). Another item on the market is a stuffedraccoonmarked with the Z symbol, a reference to the raccoon that Russian troops infamously stole from a zoo during their retreat from the southern Ukrainian city of Kherson. Sellers alsoofferstuffed bears in military uniforms with Z and V insignia. In some cases, the toys arehandmadeby widows of Russian soldiers. For younger children, “patriotic”coloring bookssell for about 300 rubles ($3.73). “My child is four. He liked it,” says one mother in a review. Some parents post videos of their children coloring tanks and other Russian military equipment. For about the same price, sellers alsooffera set of toy soldiers called the “Special Operation Recon Soldiers Set.” “Toy figures of the Russian Armed Forces will delight children with their quality and design. They’re perfect for role-playing games and help develop creativity and imagination,” the manufacturer claims. War-related games and toys may hold particular appeal for children,explainspsychologist Michael Brandl, a member of the German toy evaluation group Spiel Gut. One reason for their appeal, he says, is that they offer positive reinforcement of the media and propaganda messaging that children encounter daily. “From these sources, children form an image of a person they then try to imitate and act out in roleplay. Weapons and how to use them become part of the child’s perceived reality and a key attribute of the supposed image of the ‘ideal’ man,” Brandlwrote. A child psychologist from Russia, whose name has been withheld for safety reasons, voiced a similar view. “This is a protracted war, so the state and Vladimir Putin need boys, even from kindergarten, to already be preparing for the future battlefield,” the psychologist told The Moscow Times. “First, the state turns poor women into mothers who buy these toy soldiers. Then this Z-patriotism is nurtured with a mother’s milk. They’ll buy it without even noticing the Z, especially if it’s on sale.” Marketplaces also offer stuffed cat car decorations in camouflage colors that cost about 500 rubles ($6.20). In addition to a toy with the Russian tricolor and the letter Z, the manufacturer alsooffersa version bearing the Wagner mercenary group’s skull emblem. “You sent me a female cat, apparently — no male features and no Z. I specifically needed a male cat with a Z on it! I refused the order at pickup,”complainsa buyer named Elena. Other buyers note that the toy’s tail fell off quickly. Even toy robots are marked with the Z symbol. A set of these toys costing 784 rubles ($9.70) includes a robot with a Russian flag and weapons. For an extra 200 rubles, itcomeswith a glow-in-the-dark Z. “Satisfied with the purchase. Russia will win! Russia always wins!”saysMaria, who bought the Z-robot for her son, in her review.

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