Military service requires discipline, responsibility, and a strong moral compass, especially for those tasked with protecting civilians.
However, the stresses of the role, combined with personal challenges, can sometimes lead to troubling incidents.
These events not only question individual behavior but also the systems in place to maintain order and ensure accountability.
Shot Multiple Rounds
A 24-year-old Polish soldier stationed in Mielnik, Podlaskie, abandoned his post while armed and under the influence of alcohol on January 1.
The soldier left his camp unauthorized and targeted a civilian car with gunfire, according to WP.
The soldier was deployed in the “Safe Podlasie” operation as part of the 18th Mechanized Division when he decided to target the car.
Inside the car was a man and his 13-year-old daughter, but they stopped the car when the soldier fired warning shots into the air.
The terrified girl fled the vehicle, while her father attempted to escape.
The soldier proceeded to fire multiple rounds at the car, striking the backseat where the child had been moments earlier.
Fortunately, no one was injured, but the situation could have been catastrophic.
According to military authorities, the soldier had emptied nearly an entire magazine, with several bullets penetrating the vehicle’s interior.
He then fled to a nearby forest but was swiftly captured by a task force from the local garrison.
The Operational Command confirmed that the soldier was heavily intoxicated during the incident. He has been suspended from duty, and the case is being investigated by military police.
Prosecutors are expected to bring charges of attempted murder, and the soldier could face expulsion from the army.
