Two paramedics were killed when a car driven by Russian soldiers crashed into their ambulance in the southwestern city of Belgorod overnight, the local news outlet Pepel reported Friday.
Security camera footage published online showed the passenger vehicle running a red light at high speed before violently colliding with the ambulance.
The victims were identified as paramedics Olga Lyubimova and Marina Parovyshnik. Belgorod residents later placed flowers at a makeshift memorial at the crash site.
The ambulance driver and all three men in the passenger vehicle were hospitalized. According to Pepel, the three men are Russian soldiers from the republic of Dagestan.
The driver, 31-year-old Isa Abdurashidov, faces up to seven years in prison if convicted of traffic safety violations, according to a police statement shared by Pepel.
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.
