CRIMEA, March 19 — One Ukrainian soldier was killed and another wounded after gunmen attacked a military base near the capital of Crimea yesterday.

According to the Washington Post, the incident began when unidentified assailants arrived outside the military base in Simferopol in a truck flying a Russian flag. Gunmen then stormed the base and opened fire. It was reported that the guns were fired into the air, and it is not clear whether the two victims were struck by stray bullets or were fired at directly.

A report by RT said the shots were fired by a sniper from an uncompleted building opposite the military base targeting the Ukrainian soldiers as well the base itself.

Military personnel, believed to be Russian servicemen, walk outside the territory of a Ukrainian military unit in the village of Perevalnoye outside Simferopol March 3, 2014. — Reuters pic
Military personnel, believed to be Russian servicemen, walk outside the territory of a Ukrainian military unit in the village of Perevalnoye outside Simferopol March 3, 2014. — Reuters pic

It was not clear who was behind the incident and there was no immediate evidence that Russian soldiers were involved.

Following the shooting Ukraine’s Ministry of Defence has authorised its soldiers in Crimea to fire in self-defence. — Reuters