A Russian serviceman has shot dead eight fellow soldiers and injured at least two more on a military base in the country’s Far East, officials say.

They say the soldier – who has been detained – might have been suffering from mental health problems.

The shooting happened in the village of Gorny, not far from the city of Chita, on Friday evening.

The soldier – whose name has not been released – was guarding the base at the time. He is believed to be a conscript.

A special commission led by Deputy Defence Minister Andrey Kartapolov is flying to the region to investigate the shooting.