Two inebriated soldiers were arrested Tuesday in the Siberian city of Chita after hijacking an armored troop carrier and driving it around the city's streets, TASS news agency reported.
They will be discharged from the military, a spokesperson for the Eastern Military District told TASS.
Police in Chita were unable to stop the armored troop carrier on Tuesday evening as it careered down the lane for oncoming traffic on a city highway, the report said. Officers eventually managed to halt it in the courtyard of a residential neighborhood.
The two soldiers inside the armored vehicle refused to come out, so the traffic police officers had to smash its window with a sledge-hammer and drag them out.
The soldier driving the vehicle didn't have a license to do so. Both the joyriders were taken to the Commandant's Office.
The officials whose negligence allowed the joyride to happen will also be held responsible for the incident in accordance with military regulations and could be fired, the military spokesperson was cited by TASS as saying.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.