Soloti military training ground shooting

On 15 October 2022, a mass shooting occurred at a military training ground near Soloti, in the Valuysky District of Belgorod Oblast, Russia. Two soldiers, described as natives of a CIS country, opened fire on other personnel at the unit. Eleven people were killed and 15 others were injured before the two shooters were killed by return fire.

According to the Russian Ministry of Defence, the attack took place during a fire training session involving volunteers preparing for deployment as part of what Russian officials termed a "special operation." The ministry described the shooters as "terrorists of one of the CIS countries" and stated that small arms fire was directed at unit personnel before the two shooters were killed by return fire. Officials said a criminal investigation was being opened into the incident. The Russian outlet Readovka reported that those killed were mostly volunteers preparing to be sent to Ukraine, and that the shooting occurred during a fire training session. The Associated Press reported that the shooting took place at a military firing range.

The Russian media outlet ASTRA reported that the shooters were Muslim Tajik nationals who had argued with other soldiers over whether the war in Ukraine could be considered "holy," with the Tajik soldiers reportedly holding the position that a just war could only be one waged by Muslims against non-believers. ASTRA reported that the shooting began after a lieutenant colonel allegedly described Allah as a "weakling" and a "coward." A source described as "close to the investigation committee" told the outlet RBK that the two men involved were born in 1998 and 1999.

The father of one of the alleged shooters confirmed to RFE/RL that his son had died over the weekend during which the shooting occurred. The brother of one of the alleged shooters told RFE/RL that his sibling was an "ordinary migrant" who had moved to Moscow from southern Tajikistan several months prior to the attack. The Tajikistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated it was investigating reports that its citizens were involved in the attack.

No named individuals have been publicly charged or convicted in connection with the incident according to available reporting; the two men identified by Russian authorities and media as the shooters were killed at the scene by return fire.