A Russian soldier has been killed in a shootout with anti-terrorist forces after he reportedly suffered a nervous breakdown and opened fire at fellow troops during target practice in Russia’s Far East, killing three people, and then fleeing the training ground.

“As a result of a search operation, a counter-terror division from the Eastern Military District garrison found and stopped an armed serviceman who had fled a training ground in the Amur region,” the military district’s press office said.

“The serviceman offered armed resistance and was lethally wounded,” the statement read, adding that he posed a direct threat to the lives of counter-terror officers, prompting them to open fire.

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Friday's drama took place at one of the military units in the city of Belogorsk, in the Amur Region. The Defense Ministry said it may be a result of the serviceman suffering a nervous breakdown.

The incident occurred during a scheduled night target practice. The serviceman fired at his fellow soldiers, who were about to enter the shooting range, according to Russia’s Investigative Committee.

“An officer and two troops were fatally wounded, with two other servicemen were taken to a medical facility where they receive all the necessary assistance," the Defense Ministry said.

The shooter, whose identity is undisclosed, fled the scene, armed with stolen a machine gun with several ammunition cartridges.

The Defense Ministry said it is considering “all probable causes for the incident, including a nervous breakdown of a serviceman.”