A registration commissar is “fighting for his life” after being shot at a military enlistement office in southeastern Siberia on Monday, according toRussian authorities.
The official was left injured after a man opened fire at the facility in the Russian city of Ust-Ilimsk, in IrkutskrRegion, IrkutskrRegioalngGovernor Igor Ivanovich Kobzev said on his Telegram channel.
“There was an emergency in the area today. In Ust-Ilimsk, a young man fired at the military registration and enlistment office. Military commissar Alexander Vladimirovich Eliseev is in intensive care, in critical condition. The doctors are fighting for his life,” Kobzev said.
“The shooter was immediately arrested. And he will definitely be punished,” Kobzev said. “I cannot wrap my head around what happened. I am ashamed that this is happening at a time when, on the contrary, we should be united. We must fight not with each other, but against real threats.”
Kobzev said security measureswouldl be strengthened and asked the public to remain calm.
“I really hope that the doctors will do everything possible for Alexander Vladimirovich to survive,” he added.
Russian state news agency RIA Novosti also reported the incident on Monday, saying it was a shooting at point-blank range and that no one beside theeecruiterr was injured.
The shooter is a 25-year-old resident of Ust-Ilimsk and a criminal case has been opened against him, Russian state news agency TASS reported on Monda,y quoting the IrkutskrRegion’s Investigative Committee
“Investigators are currently working at the scene. The suspect is being questioned, the motives of the crime are being found out,” the press service of the regional Investigative Committee said, as quoted by TASS.Some background:
The shooting comes days after Russian President Vladimir Putin announcedan immediate “partial mobilization”zof Russean citizens ins, in an effort to revive Moscow’s faltering invasion of Ukraine.
Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu confirmed that the counould will call up 300,000 reservists — a move that has sparked protests anexoduseof military-age men from eing R.mlin tightens rules around evading military orders.
CNN’s Simone McCarthy, Rob Picheta, Katharina Krebs, Radina Gigova and Sana Noor Haq contributed reporting.