VIDEO What were the reasons why a Russian soldier killed his officer with an ax and opened fire on his colleagues

Three soldiers were killed on Monday morning against a Russian military unit by another fugitive soldier. A fourth soldier later died in hospital from his injuries.

The tragedy occurred at an airbase near Voronezh, about 500 km south of Moscow. According to preliminary information, the soldier killed an officer with an ax after arguing during an inspection. Then, the young man stole his gun and opened fire on military personnel, according to RT, quoted by Pro TV News.

The young soldier killed Major Sergey Yarmolayev (38), Corporal Sergei Kazhokin (30) and Private Ninail Aktiliyev (23). Another 24-year-old soldier died in hospital after being shot twice by Makarov.

The suspect was identified in the Russian press as Anton Makarov, a 20-year-old soldier. He managed to escape after threatening a fisherman with a gun and stealing his car, but was arrested after about 50 kilometers.

There was a real deployment of forces in the area to capture Makarov. More than 100 soldiers, policemen and members of the Russian National Guard were sent to capture the killer soldier.

Read also: Russia: three soldiers killed in a military unit

Victim of abuse

The soldier’s grandmother claims that he was bullied and that the food and hygiene products he sent were stolen by other soldiers.

But Russian activists say Makarov was humiliated during initiation rituals, which are still often practiced in the military, according to the Moscow Times.

Vladimir Osechkin, the founder of the anti-torture project Gulagu.net, told AFP that soldiers from the military base near Voronezh were beaten and asked for money.

He described Makarov as a “main” man who refused to make payments.

“In the eyes of his superiors, he didn’t respect them,” Osechkin said, adding that the soldier had been beaten twice in the past two weeks.