Territorial Defense battalion commander shoots himself after escape of his fighters near Vuhledar - reporters

According to journalists, a 33-year-old battalion commander shot himself on October 2, after his battalion fled from positions near Vuhledar.

On October 4, in Pervomaisk, Mykolaiv Region, farewell to the commander of the 186th separate battalion of the 123rd separate brigade of the Territorial Defense, Lieutenant Colonel Ihor Hryb, took place.

The Pervomaisk City Council dryly reported that the serviceman died "on October 2, 2024, while performing official duties to ensure the defense of Ukraine, protect the safety of the population and the interests of the state."

Instead, journalist Volodymyr Boiko claims that the 33-year-old officer committed suicide.

"On October 4, 2024, farewell to Lieutenant Colonel Ihor Hryb, commander of the 186th separate battalion of the 123rd separate brigade of the Territorial Defense, took pace in Pervomaisk, Mykolaiv Region. The 33-year-old battalion commander shot himself on October 2, after his battalion escaped from its positions near Vuhledar, as a result of which the town was finally lost," the reporter's message says.

In his comments, the journalist clarified that after lining up the personnel, the battalion commander released the fighters, and then a shot was heard. Apparently, there was no one else at the scene of the tragedy.

Military journalist Yuliya Kyriyenko-Merinova also previously reported on the suicide of a battalion commander. According to her information, the Territorial Defense brigade refused to enter the positions instead of the exhausted 72nd brigade.

"The fighters (of the 72nd brigade - ed.) were told to take up positions. Although the 123rd Mykolaiv Territorial Defense was nearby, which simply refused to enter. It was this unit that was supposed to support the 72nd in Vuhledar. But the infantry of the Territorial Defense scattered somewhere. And then the battalion commander also shot himself," she wrote.

Earlier it was reported in the mass media that about 100 soldiers of the 123rd brigade of the Territorial Defense refused to carry out the order and take positions near Vuhledar.

We will remind, as reported by Ukrainian News Agency, on October 2, the Armed Forces of Ukraine made an important statement about withdrawing from the town of Vuhledar.

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