Russian soldier ‘throws grenades’ on fellow troops as Putin’s army descends into chaos

A shocking incident has taken place in the Belgorod region of Russia, near the Ukrainian border, highlighting serious problems within the Russian army. According to Russian news channel Astra, a soldier reportedly got drunk while on duty and attacked his own unit, killing one fellow soldier and injuring another before running off with a machine gun.

The attack happened on April 16 near the village of Prilesye. Reports say the soldier had been drinking during a combat mission and started arguing with his comrades. In the heat of the argument, he allegedly threw two grenades into a dugout where other soldiers were gathered. Fifty-year-old Andrei Osokin died instantly, and 54-year-old Mikhail Gorlov was wounded. The attacker then fled the scene, armed with a machine gun, but was later caught by Russian authorities.

Astra’s report described the scene, saying the soldier opened fire and threw grenades, killing one and injuring another, before disappearing. The Russian military quickly put out alerts on pro-war chat groups to track him down.

This incident is part of a growing trend of breakdown and chaos within the Russian military. Analysts have been warning for months about rising desertion rates, alcohol abuse, and violence between soldiers—especially since Russia began relying more on poorly trained recruits, convicts, and reluctant conscripts through its “Storm-Z” program.

These kinds of violent outbursts are becoming more frequent, with disturbing reports of soldiers attacking their own officers or even taking their own lives. As the war in Ukraine drags on with no clear progress and heavy losses, morale is falling fast among troops.

Belgorod is an important area for Russia’s military operations, and this latest attack is expected to raise serious concerns among military leaders. It adds more pressure to an already strained and struggling force under President Putin’s command.