Internal strife within the Ukrainian military leads to a tragic shootout

A shootout between soldiers in one of the units in the Kharkiv region reportedly took place on 24 July 2023. According to censor.net, the incident arose due to personal relationships. Three soldiers were killed, and four were injured. This information was confirmed on Telegram by the operational-strategic group of Chortytsia soldiers.

The injured soldiers were transported to the Military Medical Centre, where they are receiving all necessary emergency medical assistance. Their condition is described as serious, according to the commander. The Ukrainian army has not released the names and ranks of the conflict victims.

The Military Security Service of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and law enforcement agencies are working at the scene. The unit's leadership is to take "all necessary measures to prevent incidents in the future".

The shootout among Ukrainian soldiers is likely the first internal skirmish during this war. Until now, reports have primarily focused on disputes within Russia.

In May this year, one of the soldiers reportedly fired shots at up to 11 soldiers. He killed six colleagues and seriously injured the rest. This occurred after consuming alcohol together. Such decisions are also influenced by low morale or inadequate equipment.

A similar incident occurred in August 2023. Near Mariupol, Chechen fighters and Russian soldiers opened fire on each other after an argument following alcohol consumption, resulting in 11 people killed, including four Russian soldiers and seven civilians.

At the beginning of the war, the media also reported on clashes between soldiers occupying Ukraine. These conflicts often involved disputes over spoils. About 50 soldiers from Buryatia and Chechnya shot at each other.