A Russian soldier has shot and killed eight colleagues and left two more wounded after a 'nervous breakdown' at remote military base in Siberia.

The gunman - named locally as Ramil Shamsutdinov, 20 - opened fire with his service weapon around 6.20pm local time during a changing of the guard at a 'repair and technical base' in the Transbaikal Region, the Russian Defence Ministry said.

Eight people died at the base, in the closed settlement of Gorny, while two more were taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. The shooter was arrested.

Ramil Shamsutdinov, 20, has been identified locally as the Russian soldier who shot eight of his comrades dead after opening fire at a Siberian military base

Shamsutdinov reportedly targeted his captain first - shooting at the heads of the victims before finishing off any wounded with 'control shots'

The ministry added that the shooting is believed to be the result of 'a nervous breakdown caused by personal circumstances not related to military service.'

The soldier, a conscript, had been serving at the remote base for just four months before opening fire, local media reported.

Witnesses said he attacked the captain first, aiming for the heads of his comrades and finishing them off with 'control shots'.

The dead includes one captain, one senior lieutenant and at least five privates, according to Russian reports.

After the shooting the solider ran into the nearby neighbourhood, causing shops to close in panic and children were sent home from school.

Two wounded soldiers have been taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, the Russian Defence Ministry said (file image)

The shooting happened around 6.20pm local time during the changing of the guard at a military base in Siberia after the man suffered an apparent nervous breakdown

He was detained in a joint police and army operation and immediately claimed he 'didn't regret anything'.

It is believed the base houses the 3rd missile brigade of the 29th Combined Arms Army of the Eastern Military District, formed in December 2016.

A deputy defence minister was heading to the base to conduct an investigation.

Shootings and other violent incidents plagued the Russian military in the 1990s and early 2000s when it suffered from desperate cash shortages and low morale.

They have become relatively rare in recent years as conditions in the military have improved.