Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) claims Ukrainian border guards shot a man who attempted to take a selfie at a border checkpoint. The border service quickly denied the accusation.
“The state border service of Ukraine officially declares that this information [about a Russian being shot at from the Ukrainian side of the border] is utterly unfounded and is of a purely provocative nature,” stated the service.
The border service found “no ammunition was missing and no signs of a shooting had been detected.” Russian media claim the man is currently at a hospital receiving treatment.
Ukrainian border guards are not allowed to fire into Russian territory.
Nikolai Sinitsin, spokesman for the Border Service of the FSB, told RIA Novosti that a few residents of the Novorussky village were vacationing near the lake when they decided to take a selfie at the checkpoint. A Ukrainian border guard allegedly shouted at them to stop and opened fire on the group.
The group ran away and flagged down a motorist on the road. The spokesman said the man “received a gunshot wound to the chest, but thanks to timely medical care he is still alive.” The guard did not shoot the man’s companion.
Agence France-Presse reported in early July that the Russian police issued a “safe selfie” campaign due to numerous selfie accidents.
Extreme #selfie deaths on rise: Russian government says avoid large wild animals, highways http://t.co/mo2qMUisqm pic.twitter.com/drVgttnOrC
— SF Planet (@sfplanet) July 24, 2015
“Unfortunately we have noted recently that the number of accidents caused by lovers of self-photography is constantly increasing,” explained Interior Ministry aide Yelena Alexeyeva. “Since the beginning of the year we are talking about some hundred cases of injuries for sure.”
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