A man armed with an automatic weapon killed six individuals and barricaded himself inside a supermarket with hostages in Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine, on Saturday. Police later shot and killed the perpetrator. Fourteen people were wounded and hospitalized as a result of the incident.
Although the 58-year-old attacker was not officially identified by the authorities, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy mentioned that the individual was of Russian origin. The motive behind the violent act is still under investigation.
This mass shooting, a rare occurrence in wartime Kyiv since the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, occurred in a bustling central area of the city, near an apartment complex and a shopping center, causing chaos as onlookers sought safety. Victims’ bodies were seen on the street covered with emergency blankets before being removed.
Zelenskyy confirmed that the assailant was neutralized after taking hostages and killing one individual at the scene, along with four others on the street. One more victim succumbed to severe injuries in the hospital. The shooter, originally from Russia, had resided in Donetsk, Ukraine, for an extended period and had set fire to his apartment before the attack.
Following failed attempts to negotiate with the gunman, Ukraine’s special tactical police units stormed the supermarket where the hostages, including customers and staff, were held. Despite offering medical assistance, the perpetrator did not respond, leading to the decision to neutralize him. The Interior Minister revealed that the gunman possessed a valid firearms permit.
During the standoff, a female negotiator attempted to communicate with the assailant through a loudspeaker, emphasizing that the innocent bystanders should not be harmed. The Security Service of Ukraine classified the incident as an act of terrorism.
The shooting occurred in Kyiv’s Holosiivskyi district, where residents recognized the gunman, describing him as educated and reserved. Witnesses noted that he rarely interacted with others and lived alone.