Maidan snipers


 * For Ukrainian events other than the week of regime change in Kiev, see Category:Ukraine

Although ACLOS is a wiki dedicated to events in Syria, we couldn't help but notice a very familiar pattern in the recent culmination of unrest in the Ukraine. Our research has led some contributors to believe that part of the reasons for escalation in Syria and other places have been snipers of unknown identity shooting at both protesters and police forces. And as also many of the other events examined on this wiki have two sides accusing each other of being responsible for despicable acts of this or the other kind, we couldn't help but take a closer look at the events of February 17th to 20th in Kiev, the capitol of Ukraine. Most of it can be found on the talk page at the moment, but some is already front page material if only to honour the victims.

Victims
Based mainly on a list published by Ukrayinska Pravda.


 * 1) Aratunyan George, Rivne (region), about 50 years. photo: Svoboda supporter
 * 2) Baydovskyy Sergei, 23 years old, an employee of trunk pipelines "Druzhba". He died from a gunshot wound to the lung February 20, 2014.  He lived in Lutsk, loved the city, most of all he loved his native Ukraine. One of the last quotes on his page "VKontakte" Lev Lukyanenko words: "A nation that is not ready to send the children to death, would not survive ..." He died from a gunshot wound at the Independence Square in Kiev on February 20.
 * 3) Brezdenyuk Valery, 50, Zhmerynka, Ukrainian businessman ebru artist in the art (drawings on the water). Killed shot in the back, February 18, 2014
 * 4) Sergei Bondarchuk, 52, Starokostyantyniv Khmelnitsky region. chytel physics, chairman of the City of Starokostyantinivskiy (Khmelnitsky region) "Svoboda". February 20, 2014 in Kiev, died due to a gunshot wound inflicted by a sniper
 * 5) Sergey Bondarev, 32 years Kramatorska. Programmer. Died February 18 from 4-ball injuries during the first attack on the square. His wife Svetlana eight months pregnant.
 * 6) Vajda / Biden Bogdan, 58 years. Single. Recently, he lived with his mother in the village. Of flight Drogobytskyy area. Went on Kyiv on February 19. In the morning the next day, arrived in Kyiv, called sister "Honey, there is a real war, shoot ..." - then broke off the conversation. On the same day in the afternoon in the waiting room of the village council Letnyanskoyi phone rang. Reported the death of Bogdan, who was killed by a sniper bullet killer.
 * 7) Vasyltsov Vitali from the White Church. Married, 36 years old, shot and killed on the street. Big Zhitomir (?), father of two children. Has a photo an video
 * 8) Varenitsa Roman M., 35. With Yavoriv Region. February 20 shot dead on the street. Big Zhitomir.
 * 9) Vyacheslav Veremiy, a journalist of the newspaper "Vesti", 32 years. Titushky vystrelyly man in the chest. He died in the hospital the morning of February 19, 2014 due to loss of blood from the gunshot wound. Without father left 4-month son Vyacheslav. photo See  below.
 * 10) Voytovych Nazar, 17. Student-tretokursnyk College for Ternopil. Died February 20, 2014
 * 11) Golodniuk Ustym, 20, Zbraj city, Ternopil region. Volunteer of the Democratic Alliance. Died February 20 at the hotel "Ukraine" as a result of a gunshot wound to the head. photo (leather suit, thumbs up)
 * 12) John Horodnyuk, Berezne Rivne region: He died due to illness, which got on Square (February 19, John returned home from the square, because during the last storm "berkutivtsyamy" doused him with water from water cannons and beat. Turned to doctors started treatment. But at night the young man's heart broke and stopped photo - rifle, traditional dress
 * 13) Hrynevych Edward Volyn, 30. He was killed on February 20.
 * 14) Huryk Roman. 19 years. Student Prikarpatsky University, Department of Psychology. From Ivano-Frankivsk. February 19, 2014 Roman killed by sniper about 12:15. Clearly in high. (from above/on high?) photo
 * 15) Sergey Didych, 44, deputy district council Horodenka Ivano-Frankivsk from Svoboda, 44 years. Died February 18, 2014. photo
 * 16) Dvoryanets Antonina, 62-year-old resident of Brovarov. February 18 her body is found on the barricades located outside Institute, at the upper entrance to the subway "Khreschatyk".
 * 17) Dyhdalovych Andrew and Sokolniki villages (Lviv), 40. photo (looks militant)
 * 18) Dzyavulskyy Nicholas and Shepetovka 56 years. Teacher of Geography and Biology, a member of Svoboda. Instytutska shot on February 20 sniper. photo, smiling photo - tribute poster
 * 19) Dmitrov Games (Igor) of s.Kopanky Kalush district, Ivano-Frankivsk region. Died February 20, 2014. He was only 30 years old. Within a few hours his hopelessly searched. 17:00 And about the 17 th hospital in Kyiv received information that Igor Dmitrov died.
 * 20) Anatoly Zhalovaha of m.Dublyany Lvivskoi region., 33 years. Shot dead on 20 February.
 * 21) Anatoly pregnant (Zherebnyy) with Rudok, Lviv region. 28 years. Employee Vyshnyanskoho Agricultural College representative there the City Council. Died February 20, 2014 by a sniper bullet. 9f16461-zherebenyi.jpg (photo: militant protest vet - apparently Asiatic and chubby)
 * 22) Vladimir Zakharov, 57 years. IT specialist. He died in a fire at the office of the Party of Regions to Lipsky . According to some sources , the man choked with smoke bombs after he was beaten with bats , pieces of pipe and feet. According to others, shot pistol shot to the head.
 * 23) Zaikov James, 73, Zhytomyr. MP of Ukraine 1 (12) convocation, chief editor of " Voice of the citizen ." February 18, 2014, died of a heart attack to escape the " Berkut " on the street . Instytutska . photo
 * 24) Alexander Kapinos, 29, activist "Svoboda " village Danube, Ternopil region . In 2012, survived 12 days without food in protest against the " language law ". During clashes in Hrushevskoho February 18 grenade hit him - said his friend Michael Zgar . - He struck an artery . Sasha was hospitalized , but he died in hospital
 * 25) Kemskyy Sergey, 33, from Kerch . He worked at the Institute for Political and economic risks and prospects for writing " Ukrayisnkoyi truth" article. Died February 20, 2014
 * 26) David Kipiani of Georgia. His body was found next to the barricade near TsUMa with two bullet wounds . He died in the " speedy ". Stayed yearling son
 * 27) Andrew Korczak with Stry, Lviv region. He died in the gap of the internal organs after beating February 18. According Hazeta.ua , Korczak He came from a family of former repressed (репресованих) (represovanykh) (prisoner?). He was unmarried. (link: Hazeta.ua)
 * 28) Igor Kostenko, 22 , a student geographer from Lviv. Died February 20, 2014.
 * 29) Kishchuk Vladimir Zaporozhye. Born in 1956 He died on February 18 in Kiev during clashes between protesters and " berkutivtsyamy ." Fractured head- neck area . Body found in house officers
 * 30) Eugene Kotlyar, 33 years old, from Kharkov. As written on Facebook Vladimir Chystylin , he is known in the " Green Front " on events in Gorky Park . He was killed on February 20. Володимир Чистилін (Facebook page) 373d94f-kotlyar.jpg (photo - kind of a "Goth" looking long-hair guy, "green," possibly considers himself "Pagan" (didn't read)
 * 31) Cremano John of Kremenchug. Died February 20 Instytutska.
 * 32) Kotsyuba Vitali from Lviv, 31. Born in the village Voroblyachyn Yavoriv Region . Died February 20, 2014 from a gunshot wound . He left a young wife and two kids.
 * 33) Kulchytsky Vladimir of Kyiv, 1949 The ball was on the flight to the heart, stuck in clothes. The second hit him in the stomach. old b/w photo
 * 34) Dmitry Maksimov. Died February 18, 2014 . Silver and bronze medalist in judo Deaflympics in Sofia. Yomuvidirvalo hand grenade . Boy died from blood loss at the House of Unions.
 * 35) Andrei Movchan, 34, Kyiv . He worked in theater . Frank lighter , a member of the Democratic Alliance . He died from a gunshot wound to the head Feb. 20, 2014
 * 36) Basil Moses . 21 years, activist Kivertsi city organization "Svoboda" Volyn region. Died February 20, 2014
 * 37) Vladimir Naumov from the village of Shevchenko, Donetsk region. March 9, 1970
 * 38) Opanasyuk Valery, Rivne. Born in 1971 . Rivne. He died on February 20 sniper bullets, leaving his wife a widow and four children - orphans. The youngest child - son - two years naystrashniy daughter - 12.
 * 39) Pahor Dmitry Khmelnitsky, 21. He died from a bullet to the head of the SBU in the walls of Khmelnytsky about eight pm, February 19, 2014.
 * 40) Pawluk Vladimir Coloma, about '40
 * 41) Pankiv Nicholas, s.Lapayivka Lviv region., 39 years old
 * 42) Parashchuk Yuri Talne, Cherkasy region , 1966 born In some lists the victims listed that he was a resident Talne , Cherkasy region. In others - that Kharkov. Member of "Svoboda ". Got a gunshot wound in his head of security forces during the retreat from the barricades in the street Instytutskiy February 20, 2014.
 * 43) Pashalin Yuri from Cherkasy region, 1984 born Died February 20, 2014 in Kiev from 3 gunshot wounds in the back and pneumatic injury.
 * 44) Alexander Plekhanov, 22 years . He died on February 18.
 * 45) Leonid Polyansky, 38 years. He died on the Maidan. Relatives say he was a cheerful man and could not stand by lawlessness that takes place in Ukraine - and therefore went to Independence . He is survived by children from two marriages. In recent years he lived and worked in Kiev, but the funeral will take place in Zhmerynka where I came from.
 * 46) Prohorskyy Basil, 33 years. February 18 was on the square, and since then been released on bond, was missing from the list . From FB : " 02/18/14 after work in time 17 . Poehal to Independence . During the 19th time. Already on Communications not vыhodyl . Nochevat not pryshel . Utrom not at work vыshel . Friend naydenы neighborhood of Cathedral Myhaylovskoho ego jacket and phone. Went to today opoznanye - vыbytы zubы , all blue ..." Recognize the body of February 22, 2014.
 * 47) Saienko Andrew Fastova (Kiev region), born in 1962
 * 48) Serduk Igor, 40. From Kremenchug, Poltava region . A man with vystrelyly bleed in the face. "He was building a barricade , wearing bags. During this against him and other activists attacked titushky and" berkutivtsi . " Immediately been a fight , then someone shot games in focus in the face - said Sergey Polyuhovich , deputy head of the Kremenchug " Square "photo
 * 49) Smilenko Victor, born in 1961 Kirovohrad region, Bobrinetsky area s.Borysivka . Died February 20
 * 50) Smolynskyy Vitaly Umansky district,. Furmanivka . He died on 20 February.
 * 51) Solchanyk Bogdan, 29, from Lviv, historian, teacher of Ukrainian Catholic University. He worked at the Department of Modern History Ukraine UCF. Corroborated by a report from his funeral in Lviv.
 * 52) Tarasyuk John, Volyn region, town Olyka . Date of Birth - 28 January 1993. February 20, 2014 died on the Square from a gunshot wound.
 * 53) Igor Tkachuk, born in 1975 . A resident of Great Kolomiyskogo Kamenka district, Ivano- Frankivsk region. Killed by a sniper shot February 20, 2014 . Three orphaned children - 17, 11 and a few months. photo (flowers)
 * 54) Tochyn Roman, 44, m.Hodoriv Lviv region. He died on Independence February 20, 2014 . Stayed (survived by) wife and two daughters.
 * 55) John Blok (or Tour - is the name of his wife, but since it is also called), 40. He lived in town , Lviv Oblast. Private . February 20, 2014 at Instytutska he was killed by a sniper bullet . Without a father and daughter were little son.
 * 56) Ushnevych Oleg Drogobich born in 1982 He died on 20 February. Spayperom shot on Instytutska at the October Palace . Born in Drogobych family workers NPK OAO "Galicia" Michael and Eugenia Ushnevych . Many oil workers activist was remembered at the funeral of his mother in 1985 : Eugene Ushnevych died in childbirth, birth Oleg brother. Then three years Oleg, realizing what had happened , pale and defenseless tulyvsya to his grandmother . On the Square in Kiev, Oleg Ushnevych was from day one. It is well known in Skole District , where after university teacher . In recent years, leaving to work abroad.
 * 57) Chmilenko Victor was born in 1961 of Kirovograd region. A farmer shot by a sniper . a farmer on the TV news
 * 58) Hrapachenko Alexander, 27, a theater director , Rivne. Killed by sniper bullets February 20, 2014
 * 59) Hurtsiya Zurab from Georgia 54 years old. Body found at barricade located outside Institute, at the upper entrance to the subway "Khreschatyk ". Lived in Kirovograd. He died of a heart attack.
 * 60) Chaplinsky Vladimir Obukhov . His wife works in a kindergarten in the family - 2 children. Son and had a daughter.
 * 61) Chernenko Andrew, 35. From Kyiv . Died February 19, 2014 . Without father remained 7 -month-old child ...
 * 62) Kinglet Alexander from the village. Kalinin, Kyiv region . He died at the October Palace.
 * 63) Sergei Shapoval born in 1969 of Kyiv . Found dead in the House of officers. 79c3219-shapoval.jpg (photo, cat lover)
 * 64) Schvets Victor, born October 8, 1957, p. Gatnoe Sviatoshynskyi Kyiv Kyiv region. Around one in the morning of 18 February 19, received three gunshot wounds to the abdomen on the Maidan. Express took Viktor to the hospital, but he died on the way . No parent left the child.
 * 65) -  Joseph Schilling, 61, of Drohobycha (Lviv region ). Together with his wife Anne gave birth to and raised two daughters who gave my grandfather and grandmother of four granddaughters . By profession - builder. Recent years have often traveled to Italy for work . His wife Anna works in Italy. On Kyiv traveled several times linger there for long. I live in a free, prosperous country - to grandchildren are not looking for happiness abroad. He died on February 20 headshots at the October Palace.
 * 66) - Shimko Maxim. 33 years, Vinnytsia. Died February 20, 2014 . The last record that people leave on their stoirntsi in "VKontakte" February 18 - " For Ukraine ! ! ! ! ! ! Anyone who can go to Kyiv !"
 * 67) -Shcherbaniuk Alexander, Chernivtsi, 46 years. uuchasnyk all electoral races, the head of the party primary " homeland ." Sniper vtsilyv he could about Chernivtsi tent " Motherland ", the press service of the regional branch of the party of the "Fatherland ." According to " Bukovinskoy truth" in Chernivtsi Alexander Shcherbaniuk working self-employed , engaged in construction , mainly performing plytochni work. (improved translate or sub-section needed) He left a wife , a sick mother and two children - a son who is studying in class 9 and 20 -year-old daughter. He was very active political activist . On the Square was initially intermittently. Photo: 4438b32-shcherbanyuk.jpg (sunglasses)

Dead police

 * 1) Bulitka Basil, Kyiv . 1986
 * 2) Dmitry Vlasenko, Crimea. 1982
 * 3) Vitaliy Goncharov, Crimea. Born in 1989
 * 4) MD Vladimir, Kyiv . Born in 1971
 * 5) Alexey Ivanenko, Kharkov. Born in 1977
 * 6) Peter Sawicki, Kyiv . Born in 1972
 * 7) Spichak Sergey, Berdyansk
 * 8) Teplyuk John Chernihiv. Born 1993
 * 9) Maxim Tretiak, Chernigov. Born 1993
 * 10) Fedyukin Andrew Crimea. Born in 1972
 * 11) Tsvigun Sergei, Zaporozhye. 1990 year of birth

Understanding the Scene
This broad area map shows the relevant locations for the pivotal events of February 20. The hotel Ukraine, generally insurgent-held, seems to be the origin of at least a majority, if not all, of the truly criminal and relentless firing on unarmed protester/insurgents. That occurred, video clarifies, in the red area at the map's center. There's no clear evidence ACLOS has found of peaceful protesters getting shot on the Maidan itself. Until it's settled enough to summarize here in full, evolving details on the area can be found in the talk page section Mapping the Events. Alleged shooting directions are mapped and considered in the sub-section Talk:Ukraine 2014.

Regime Change

 * From Crimea documentary-Putin interview- Opening part, interview at 8:00.
 * 20 February 2014, 18:40 (Moscow) Yanukovich-Putin phone call; 23:30 (Moscow) Merkel, Cameron calls (extreme concern expressed; Russia's human rights representative Lukin goes to Kiev).


 * 21.2. 2014 Yanukovich goes to Khrarkov. Rada appoints Turchinov, de-facto deposes Yanukovich. Yanukovich makes a video appeal from Kharkov that he does not plan to resign. Goes to Donetsk
 * Michael McFaul interview. Q: "Recently, Lavrov told his version - when they agreed, Putin called Obama and said, "So we pressed on him, they signed, now you have to put pressure on the opposition." In his logic, he imagined that someone could put pressure on the Maidan, although it was no longer possible. Yanukovych ran away at night . Lavrov said that "offended the president, that no one called back from Washington, and even did not say that they had tried to convince, but were not able to." At this point, it was sealed, and he had decided to take the Crimea".
 * A: "I agree, it was probably the moment when he decided to start this operation, and this is extremely important. Because many say he dreamed of this for a long time".
 * 22 February 2014, 01:45 (Moscow). Obama-Putin phone call


 * 22-23. 2. 2014 Yanukovich goes from Donetsk to Crimea. Russia intercepts communications suggesting that Yanukovih will be ambushed, possibly killed. Yanukovich informed. While in contact with him, a rescue mission is ordered; choppers and commandos extract Yanukovich cortege from a beach-side location. Yanukovich still goes to Crimea for a few days, than leaves to Russia.
 * 23 February 2014, 18:20 (Moscow) Merkel-Putin phone call. (Olympic games congratulations and Ukraine) (23 February is the Soviet/Russian Army day).

Investigations
(forthcoming - see talk page section on Official Sniper Investigations))

International Advisory Panel, Council of Europe
Statement of the International Advisory Panel on the occasion of the first anniversary of the beginning of the Euromaidan crisis on 30 November 2013. The panel, first convened in April, 2014, does not conduct its own investigations, officially. Instead, it reviews investigations of Maidan (and also Odessa) events, still conducted by Ukrainian authorities, to determine if they are up to European Human Rights standards. Whether or not the findings are true is another question that aren't necessarily mandated to address.

The statement explains the panel's composition:
 * The Panel, chaired by Sir Nicolas Bratza, former President of the European Court of Human Rights, is made up of three members, the other two members being Mr. Volodymyr Butkevych, a former judge of the European Court of Human Rights, and Mr. Oleg Anpilogov, a former prosecutor of Ukraine.

The statement also explains how they gathered information, not for its own investigation which it doesn't do, but for some sort of reference purposes: soliciting government ministries, and taking an open call for NGOs to submit information. The panel notes a mixed and slow response from the ministries (stemming, they think, from a misunderstanding since resolved), and submissions from Ukrainian Human Rights groups (likely pro-government ones, including "the recently formed ‘Families of Heroes of Heaven’s Hundred’") as well as Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International. As for their view of the panel's historical role, they seem to acknowledge it is to ease and solidify the transition to a Europe-leaning new order whose moral basis has been built largely on their version of highly contestable crimes they alone are left to investigate:
 * The effective investigation of unlawful killings and serious ill-treatment is all the more crucial when those violent acts constitute a turning point in a State’s history, as they were in the case of the Maidan demonstrations. In such cases, investigations and prosecutions, bringing as they should truth and accountability, constitute an important means of ensuring a solid transition from that episode of violence to the next more positive chapter. This is, indeed a form of transitional justice. ... the International Advisory Panel (hopes to) make a lasting contribution to restoring public confidence and to bringing closure to both these unhappy chapters in Ukraine’s history.

The 100+ pages report of the panel, released on March 31, 2015, concludes that no significant progress has been made in the investigations and criticizes mostly Avakov's Ministry of the Interior, but also the security service, of an attitude that "has been unco-operative and, in certain respects, obstructive".

Ivan Katchanovski
The author of the study Dr. Ivan kachanivska (School of political science and the faculty of media of the University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada). The work was presented at the meeting of the seminar group for the study of Ukraine at the University of Ottawa October 1, 2014
 * The “Snipers’ Massacre” on the Maidan in Ukrainemore – Ivan Katchanovski, October 1, 2014
 * Paper presented at the Chair of Ukrainian Studies Seminar at the University of Ottawa, Ottawa.
 * Updated version: The “Snipers’ Massacre” on the Maidan in Ukraine (revised and updated version), by Ivan Katchanovski, Ph.D, Feb 20, 2015 (PDF on academia.edu)
 * Pro-West Snipers Murdered Kiev Demonstrators in False Flag: Canadian Academic Analysis – Ivan Katchanovski, Oct 31
 * "Massacre on the Maidan": the case of the Kiev snipers: Canadian-Ukrainian historian exposes the original animal lies Kiev junta Nakanune.ru (in Russian) November 11, 2014
 * Media Silent on Striking Revelations in the Kiev Sniper Massacre Trial in Ukraine - Russia Insider, 23 July 2015 (originally on Facebook)

Others
There's at least one decent photo-based study by a guy named Vorontsov, and other sources currently listed on the discussion page.

Video

 * Maidan Massacre Master ENG – Sep 23, 2014
 * 52 minute English language documentary on the Maidan Massacre. Berkut officers interviewed. Analysis of snipers.
 * Carnage on Institutskaya Street on February 20, 2014 Maidan, Kiev, Ukraine – ZFront Kharkov UA, Jul 8, 2014
 * The 42:10 minute video with timestamps
 * Kiev 'Sniper' fires from Ukraine hotel BBC News – Sep 6, 2014
 * New HD compilation of BBC footage of the Hotel Ukraine snipers
 * Maidan The truth behind the February 20 massacre Part 1
 * Translated from Майдан, который не покажут в новостях. Часть1 – Genia L., Feb 23, 2014

Khodakovskii
tvrain interview. He was a commander of Alpha battalion in the  Donetsk region, and deployed on Maidan (currently commander of Vostok battalion, DPR, and DPR security chief). He with his group was at Trade Union building (he says 'that building), entering from the top and moving downstairs. Another group was supposed to move from ground level but was unable to. His group moved in with a motto 'we burn but we do not shoot back.' Battle order, man with a shield, followed by 1 or 2 men with pump gun; everybody else behind  role was to extinguish  fire; had weapons but were not using them. They found a door on the 7 floor locked, and some people on that floor trying to start a fire. They broke some glass, threw in some noise-producing police grenades, but were not able to fully open the door or to extinguish fire. Fire extinguishers were too small for the job; they made a water line from 8 floor but pressure was too low for firefighting. They noticed the fire on the 6 floor as well. Concluded there is no point to try moving down. Eventually, discovered that protesters brought in --as he say--corpses of pro-Maidan supporters killed elsewhere on Maidan. He says that there radio conversations were all recorded, but not made public. But recordings reporting fire starting on 2 floor (as he believes, fake reports), were published. Khodakovskii makes a point that there was more freedom/democracy before Maidan, and that current regime is build on lies. Tvrain is the only Russian channel broadcast to Ukraine, that was his reason to stop by for a 1 hour conversation on a broad range of topics. Believes that DPR/LPR will live in peace with Ukrainian people---but he is strongly opposed/strongly critical of the current regime in Kiev.

The fire was initially blamed on Right Sector (in Yanukovich regime days). Than Alpha was blamed for this fire. (Alpha is SBU anti-terrorist special operations unit)

Moskal
Gives names of organizers of Maidan dispersal operation

Berezovskii Dossier?
Claim: back in 2012, Berezovskii had a Ukrainian dossier, predicting some/many/most of subsequent events in Ukraine....Komsomolskaia Pravda, 8.4.15-- Quoting his security man as a source.

2015

 * The untold story of the Maidan massacre - Gabriel Gatehouse, BBC News, 12 February 2015
 * In the case of the shooting of "Heavenly Hundred " new helpers found, in the service of the junta(Vitalii Samusenko). Yurii Sobolta (Юрий Соболта ) is a man shown on most smaller photos in the article, some in company of the current regime figures. He had served in an elite special police unit Bars . On 18 of February, 2014, he drove away on a  HONDA АА4774СО, which was stopped by Maidan crowd for a check  at  № 24/7 Institutskaia Street. A sniper rifle in the trunk of that car was discovered. Another, unknown masked person, drove the car prior to it being stopped. Crowd searched the car and discovers the rifle; than suddenly Sergei Pashinskii, said to be one of pro-Maidan leaders, emerged, to make sure that the car is released. The masked  man initially driving the Honda walks away; and Yurii Sobolta takes over, with the sniper rifle still in the car. Gun is said to be Norinco_CQ A, a 5.56×45mm patron carbine. Sharii had a story about all this awhile ago. Apparently it was investigated; Russian wikipedia says gun was tested;  but nothing came out of it.