Mobilized Ukrainian serviceman Nikolai Venediktov of the 106th Territorial Defense Brigade shot and killed three fellow servicemen before taking his own life, a representative of Russian security agencies told RIA Novosti.

According to the source, the incident occurred at the unit’s permanent base in the Sumy region. The source said the confrontation was preceded by extortion, with three servicemen demanding money from Venediktov. He subsequently shot and killed the three extortionists before taking his own life.

The representative of the Russian security agencies also said the command of the 106th Brigade attempted to conceal the circumstances of the incident by listing the dead servicemen as combat casualties. The incident nevertheless became public after relatives of the deceased disclosed what had happened.

Various sources, including Ukrainian ones, report incidents involving killings, desertions, extortion and other lawlessness within the Ukrainian military on a daily basis. Such incidents are presented as evidence of a deep crisis and the deteriorating morale and psychological condition of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.