In the Rostov region city of Novoshakhtinsk, a man dressed in camouflage and wearing a ski mask opened fire on members of the police, injuring one officer, according to the press service of the main office of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
The incident occurred around midday on December 6. Local residents reported hearing gunfire in the Novaya Sokolovka district, a part of Novoshakhtinsk about 10 kilometers from the border with the LPR, to reporters and regional news outlets.
The Home Office confirmed to Interfax that an unidentified male in camouflage fired on officials from the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs in Novoshakhtinsk, then fled the scene. Initial statements indicated a police officer sustained a gunshot wound.
Telegram channels circulated additional details, noting that three PPS officers were confronted and fired upon with a Kalashnikov assault rifle. Reports varied on whether the officers were in uniform or civilian clothes at the time. There was also mention of a search for a woman named Oksana Panchenko, age 43, who had recently disappeared.
The shooting left a 27-year-old non-commissioned officer wounded in the pelvic region and transported to a hospital for treatment.
Regional authorities described the police situation as moderate and noted that vascular surgeons from the Rostov Regional Clinical Hospital were dispatched to assist the injured officer.
Some Telegram sources described the shooter as a deserter who had fled from Ukraine and claimed two police officers were injured. They also suggested that the suspect had previously been in military service and may have held animosity toward law enforcement. The reports indicated that the man escaped after the confrontation, and searches continued within the city and its outskirts.
“Siren” plan
In response to the incident, Novoshakhtinsk police were ordered to wear body armor and carry firearms capable of stopping potential threats, according to Baza. The city activated its siren plan, with schools and kindergartens temporarily closed, roads blocked, and residents advised to stay indoors and avoid unnecessary travel.
Investigations were announced as ongoing. The regional government agency overseeing public safety stated that the entire local police force was mobilized to participate in the inquiry.
A description circulated of a man approximately 180 to 190 centimeters tall, dressed in camouflage and armed with a Kalashnikov assault rifle, as the primary suspect. The administration urged residents to shelter indoors and not attempt to detain the shooter themselves.
Officials from the Novoshakhtinsk city administration reported enhanced security measures in educational institutions following orders from the city leadership. The city requested the public to avoid panicking and to follow official updates through established channels only.
One exit from the city was reportedly blocked as a precaution during the manhunt. Local enforcement confirmed that the operation focused on the Novaya Sokolovka district, with police and National Guard units maintaining a strong presence at the scene.
Witnesses described heavy traffic congestion and confusion near a bridge area, noting that vehicles from the opposite lanes appeared to be joining the scene and that road controls were actively in place. The situation drew significant attention from residents and media alike as authorities worked to secure the area.
The city administration announced that public transport to nearby villages, including Novaya Sokolovka and Sokolovo-Kundryuchensky, had been suspended to reduce risk and to facilitate the search.
Novoshakhtinsk lies to the north of Rostov-on-Don. Local outlets noted that the city is within the Rostov region and is among the closest settlements to the LPR border. There had previously been a checkpoint in the area prior to 2022.