Manhunt in Russia for Armed 'Deserter' Who Shot Police

A manhunt is underway in Russia's Rostov region for a suspected "deserter" from the Russian army after he fired at police officers at a city near the Ukraine border, according to local media reports.

The city of Novoshakhtinsk in Russia's western Rostov region has been placed under lockdown after an unidentified man dressed in camouflage opened fire on police officers with a machine gun and fled, Russia's state-run news agency Tass reported.

Local news outlet 161.ru reported that police are looking for a man 180-190 centimeters tall (between 5 ft. 9 and 6 ft. 2), dressed in camouflage and armed with a machine gun.

A police officer has been hospitalized after being wounded by the possible deserter, according to Tass.

Governor of the Rostov region, Vasily Golybev, published a statement on his VKontakte page saying that the attack happened at around 12 p.m. local time in the suburbs of Novoshakhtinsk.

One of the policemen received a gunshot wound, he said, adding that operational-search activities are being carried out in the city and suburbs.

"He [the policeman] was taken to the city hospital. A team of vascular surgeons was sent to Novoshakhtinsk from the Rostov Regional Clinical Hospital to assist him. The condition of the police officer is characterized by experts as moderate," the governor said.

As part of lockdown measures in response to the shooting, roadblocks have been set up, local kindergartens have been closed, while exits from the city have also been blocked, and public transport has been temporarily suspended.

Local officials have warned residents not to go outside.

Russian news outlet Mash and Baza, a Russian Telegram channel that regularly posts information about security issues within the country, both reported that the gunman may be a deserter from the Russian army.

The man fled to the Rostov region from Ukraine, according to Mash.

According to the FSB border department for the Rostov region, Novoshakhtinsk is a key checkpoint between the Rostov region and Luhansk, in Ukraine's eastern Donbas region, 161.ru reported.

In September, a young Russian man opened fire at a military registration and enlistment office in Russia's Irkutsk region, reportedly saying before the shooting that "no one will fight" and "now we'll all go home."

Newsweek has contacted Russia's defense and foreign ministries for comment.

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