At least six people have been killed and 15 others injured after a gunman opened fire on civilians in Kyiv over the weekend in a violent attack that escalated into a hostage situation inside a supermarket, Ukrainian authorities have confirmed.
The incident, which unfolded in the Holosiivskyi district of the capital, has been described by Ukraine’s Attorney General Ruslan Kravchenko as an act of terrorism. The attack has triggered nationwide shock and prompted renewed scrutiny of public security procedures and police response protocols.
According to officials, the suspect—identified as a 58-year-old man born in Moscow—began his assault on a public street, where he opened fire on civilians, killing four people almost immediately. Witnesses reported scenes of panic as residents fled for safety while shots were fired indiscriminately in a busy area.
After the initial shooting, the attacker reportedly entered a nearby Velmart supermarket, where he continued his rampage. Inside the store, he killed another person and took multiple hostages, escalating the situation into a prolonged standoff with security forces.
Ukraine’s Minister of Internal Affairs, Ihor Klymenko, described the attacker’s actions as erratic and highly dangerous, stating that he “acted chaotically” and “approached every person… he was simply shooting people point-blank.” The violence prompted a rapid response from Ukrainian special forces, who moved to contain the situation and protect remaining civilians inside the building.
The crisis lasted approximately 40 minutes before police intervened and fatally shot the gunman at the scene, bringing the siege to an end. President Volodymyr Zelensky later confirmed that four hostages were successfully rescued during the operation, crediting the swift response of special forces for preventing further loss of life.
Among the victims is a young boy born in 2015, who remains hospitalized with gunshot wounds. His father and aunt were both killed in the attack, while his mother is reported to be in serious condition. The case has drawn widespread public sympathy and renewed concerns about civilian safety in urban areas.
Although mass shootings are relatively rare in Ukraine’s post-independence history, this incident has been described as one of the most severe civilian attacks in recent years, prompting urgent investigations into both the perpetrator’s background and the circumstances that enabled the violence.
Authorities have revealed that the suspect had a prior criminal record, and investigators are examining multiple possible motives. Officials also noted that the attacker’s registered apartment was set on fire around the same period as the assault, adding further complexity to the ongoing inquiry.
President Zelensky has called for a full and transparent investigation, stressing that “every detail must be examined” to understand the attacker’s actions and prevent similar incidents in the future. He also highlighted that the suspect had lived for an extended period in the eastern Donetsk region, though it remains unclear whether this is connected to the motive behind the attack.
In addition to the investigation into the shooter, Ukrainian authorities have also launched a separate inquiry into police conduct during the incident. The review was initiated after video footage surfaced showing some officers appearing to retreat from the scene during the early moments of the attack.
The footage sparked public criticism and internal concern within law enforcement agencies. Ivan Vyhivskyi, head of the National Police of Ukraine, confirmed that an internal investigation has been launched to assess the actions of responding officers and determine whether proper protocols were followed during the emergency.
Following the controversy, Yevhen Zhukov, head of the Kyiv patrol police department, submitted his resignation. In his statement, he described the actions of some officers as “unprofessional” and “unworthy of police officers,” acknowledging failures in discipline during the critical moments of the incident.
The National Police has since pledged to review operational procedures and improve rapid response coordination in high-risk situations, particularly those involving armed attackers and hostage scenarios.
As the investigation continues, Kyiv remains in shock over the scale and brutality of the attack. Security forces are working to piece together the gunman’s movements, weapon access, and psychological profile in an effort to determine how the tragedy unfolded and whether it could have been prevented.
The incident has once again raised broader concerns about urban security, emergency preparedness, and the risks posed by isolated but highly violent attacks in civilian spaces.
