A gunman killed six people and wounded fifteen in Kyiv’s Holosiiv district on Saturday before being shot dead by police during a hostage situation.
Kyiv Shooting: Casualties and Initial Events
Six people were killed and fifteen injured in a shooting that occurred on Saturday in Kyiv’s Holosiiv district. The armed attacker initially opened fire on random passersby before barricading himself inside a supermarket, taking hostages.
The attack began on a street in the southern part of Kyiv, with the lone gunman firing at people without warning, resulting in four deaths and several injuries.
Supermarket Standoff and Hostage Situation
The gunman moved to a nearby Velmart supermarket, escalating the situation by killing another person and taking hostages. One critically wounded person later died in hospital, raising the death toll to six.
Official Response and Hospitalizations
Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko reported that nine people were hospitalized, while six injured individuals received medical assistance at the scene.
Perpetrator Identified as Russian National
The perpetrator was identified by Ukraine’s Prosecutor General Ruslan Kravchenko as a 58-year-old man born in Moscow who had been residing in Ukraine, including the Donetsk region.
Investigators revealed the suspect had a criminal history and the weapon used during the attack was registered and appeared to be automatic, increasing the threat level.
Authorities are also investigating a fire at the attacker’s apartment, which occurred around the same time as the shooting, to determine if it was a planned element of the attack.
Hostage Rescue and Police Intervention
Upon entering the supermarket, the situation became critical, with several people inside, four of whom were held hostage by the attacker.
Special police units and negotiators were deployed. A negotiator, Valeriia, attempted to contact the perpetrator for approximately 40 minutes, according to media reports.
“For 40 minutes, he did not respond to attempts to communicate,” the negotiator reported after the operation concluded.
Due to the lack of response and the unpredictable nature of the attacker’s behavior, authorities decided to use force.
Police Assault and Perpetrator’s Death
Special units of the National Police of Ukraine launched an assault. According to Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko, the attacker opened fire on officers during the attempt to detain him.
Police returned fire, killing the attacker at the scene.
“He behaved chaotically, approached people and shot them from very close range,” Klymenko stated.
All hostages were freed during the operation, confirmed by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, noting that four people who were held in the store survived.
Police Conduct Under Investigation
A video circulating online sparked controversy, showing two police officers leaving the scene while shots were heard. The footage was recorded by a resident of a nearby building and quickly spread online.
Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko immediately ordered an official investigation and requested Police Chief Ivan Vyhivskyi to thoroughly explain the situation.
“We must establish all the circumstances of the incident without exception. We are analyzing video footage, including that published online, and interviewing witnesses,” Vyhivskyi said.
Both officers have been suspended from duty pending the outcome of the investigation.
Klymenko emphasized the importance of adhering to service standards: “Service and protection is not just a slogan. It must be supported by real actions, especially when the decisions of officers depend on human life.”
Terrorism Investigation and Motives
The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) is investigating the attack as an act of terrorism. Various scenarios are being analyzed, including personal motives, criminal connections, and potential destabilization efforts.
Investigators have seized all of the perpetrator’s electronic devices, including his phone and data storage, to help determine his actions before the attack.
Zelenskyy stated that investigators are working on several versions of events and checking every possible lead.
“Every detail must be thoroughly analyzed, we are working on several versions of events,” Zelenskyy said.
At this stage, there are no definitive findings regarding the perpetrator’s motives. His contacts, past behavior, and mental state are being investigated.
Rarity of Shootings in Ukraine
Despite Ukraine being in a state of full-scale war since 2022, attacks on civilians of this nature are rare. Experts emphasize that despite the large number of weapons in circulation, mass shootings occur sporadically.
Since gaining independence, Ukraine has recorded only a few similar incidents, according to CNN. The events in Kyiv are among the most serious of their kind in the country’s history.
