Ukrainian Border Guard shoots and kills soldier during escape attempt to Moldova

The four soldiers fled from a training unit in the Zakharivskyi district of Odesa Oblast on July 14, intending to cross the border on foot into Moldova, the SBI said. To reach the border, they hired a taxi.

Border guards spotted and detained the group during their attempt to cross.

"One of the escapees attacked a border guard while trying to flee," the SBI said.

"In response, the border guard used his service weapon and shot the attacker."

The SBI has opened a criminal investigation into the soldier's death. The case is preliminarily classified as abuse of power by a law enforcement officer (border guard) causing grave consequences (Part 3, Article 365 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine). This offense carries a penalty of seven to ten years in prison and a ban on holding certain positions or engaging in specific activities for up to three years.

Andriy Demchenko, a State Border Guard Service spokesman, provided additional details to the public broadcaster Suspilne. A border detachment stopped a car near the state border in Odesa Oblast on July 14, with four passengers, apparently a taxi carrying the soldiers identified by the SBI as escapees, Demchenko said. Two of the passengers then fled.

"During the subsequent search, one of the two attacked a border guard," he said.

"To protect his life, the border guard had to use his weapon. He fired warning shots and then shot towards the attacker."

Emergency medical personnel confirmed the man's death and noted injuries on the border guard. 

"Information circulating on some resources that the border guard fired a pistol at the fleeing escapee is not true," Demchenko said.

"The SBI, other law enforcement agencies, and the prosecutor's office have been notified of this incident."