A conscript was seriously wounded after another soldier accidentally fired a Glock 19 pistol at the training centre of the Moldova Motorised Infantry Brigade in Bălți. The incident occurred during military exercises and has renewed questions about weapons training and safety procedures in the National Army. According to media reports, the bullet struck the soldier in the abdomen, passing through the sternum, stomach, liver, spleen and left lung.
Moldova conscript shooting under investigation
The wounded serviceman was taken to hospital and underwent emergency surgery. His condition was initially described as serious but stable, and he remained in intensive care. On June 17, the day after the shooting, he was taken off mechanical ventilation.
“According to doctors, the patient’s general condition is satisfactory. He is conscious, out of danger and ready for surgery. The soldiers’ relatives have been informed, and the unit’s leadership remains in telephone contact with the parents,” the Ministry of Defence claimed.
The Health Minister also commented on the medical response.
“He is in a serious but stable condition. Today, at 8:12, he was taken off mechanical ventilation. The situation is under control. A team from the Republican Clinical Hospital came to provide assistance. All necessary procedures were carried out. The bullet passed through the xiphoid process, sternum, stomach, liver, spleen and the lower part of the left lung, before exiting through a rib. During surgery, the damaged organs were sutured,” he responded.
Nosatîi blames safety breach and indiscipline
Defence Minister Anatolie Nosatîi said the Moldova conscript shooting was not the result of a personal dispute, but of careless handling of a weapon and a breach of safety regulations. He also attributed the incident to a lack of discipline by the soldier who fired the shot.
“This was a case in which the rules for handling weapons were violated. The incident occurred because of indiscipline. The Glock 19 is a modern, high-performance weapon used by many Western armies. The main mistake when handling this weapon is a failure to comply with safety measures. A round should not be chambered unless necessary,” Nosatîi said.
The minister did not explain whether instructors had specifically trained the conscripts in the handling requirements of the Western-made pistol before the exercise. The soldier who fired the weapon has been placed on leave while the investigation continues. According to Nosatîi, a commission will determine whether he should face disciplinary action or be dismissed from the National Army.
Questions over officers’ responsibility
The authorities have so far focused primarily on the conduct of the conscript who discharged the weapon. There has been little public discussion of possible responsibility among the officers and instructors tasked with teaching soldiers how to handle firearms safely.
The case is the latest serious incident involving a conscript in the Moldovan military and is likely to intensify scrutiny of safety standards, supervision and training within the armed forces. The outcome of the investigation into the Moldova conscript shooting will show whether responsibility is limited to the individual soldier or extended to those responsible for organising and supervising the exercise.
