Russian soldier, 21, opens fire in occupied Sevastopol, killing four

A Russian serviceman has opened fire on fellow soldiers and local residents in the village of Khmelnitskoye in Russian-occupied Sevastopol.

According to Russian-appointed governor of Sevastopol, Mikhail Razvozhayev, the serviceman first fired at his fellow soldiers, killing one and wounding another. Then, he reportedly opened fire on local residents, killing three civilians — two men, aged 59 and 71, and a 64-year-old woman — and wounding three more.

Razvozhayev said that the shooter had been detained.

According to independent outlet Post-, the soldier has been identified as 21-year-old Maxim A. from the southern region of Saratov. According to the soldier's adoptive father, he hasn't been in touch with his family in over a day. Before signing a contract with the Russian Defence Ministry, Maxim had served his compulsory year of military service in Moscow.

Independent outlet Agentstvo has identified the attacker as Maxim Alistratov. According to leaked documents, he has a criminal record for stealing 1,500 rubles (€16) from a store. As of December 2025, he was considered unemployed.