UPDATE: In the Poltava region, an unknown assailant killed a military service member at a gas station and fled the scene.

At a gas station in the city of Pyriatyn, located in the Poltava region, during the escort of conscripted soldiers to the 199th training center, an armed attack occurred against a serviceman from the Poltava District Territorial Center for Recruitment and Social Support (RTC and SS).

This was reported by the press service of the Ground Forces.

“A man in a gray balaclava and pixelated pants approached the serviceman of the Poltava RTC and SS, threatening him with a hunting rifle and demanding his weapon. After being refused, the assailant shot the serviceman. As a result of the severe injury, the soldier died on the spot,” the statement reads.

It is noted that after the attack, the criminal seized the serviceman's automatic weapon and fled with one of the mobilized conscripts.

“The command of the Ground Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine strongly condemns this outrageous crime and demands the harshest punishment for those responsible. The murder of a serviceman while performing his official duties is a serious crime that must be investigated as soon as possible,” the Ground Forces stated.

Law enforcement agencies are working at the scene, and operational search measures are ongoing.

A special operation called “Siren” has been introduced in the Poltava region, with cooperation taking place between military structures and law enforcement agencies in adjacent regions.

UPDATED AT 12:35 According to information from the Poltava police, law enforcement officers have detained a resident of Poltava born in 1984, who shot at the serviceman. His accomplice is a resident of Poltava born in 1988.

During an urgent search, investigators seized the weapon from the attacker. The issue of notifying the suspects of their charges and selecting preventive measures for them is being resolved. Based on this incident, a pre-trial investigation has been initiated by the police investigative unit under the procedural guidance of the prosecutor's office for criminal proceedings opened under Part 1 of Article 115, Part 3 of Article 262, and Part 2 of Article 114-1 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. They face a potential sentence of seven to fifteen years in prison.