Moscow-born Gunman Kills Six, Wounds 14 in Kyiv Shooting Rampage, Zelenskyy Reports

A Russian gunman was killed by Ukrainian special forces Saturday following a deadly shooting spree at a Kyiv supermarket that left six people dead and 14 others wounded, including a 12-year-old boy.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko identified the 58-year-old shooter as a Moscow-born man who had long resided in the Donetsk region of eastern Ukraine. The attack occurred in a residential area of the Ukrainian capital, sending shockwaves through a city already under stress from the ongoing war with Russia.

According to officials, the gunman took at least four hostages inside the store, killing one of them, after shooting four other victims on the street outside. A sixth victim later died at a hospital from injuries sustained during the attack.

Witnesses captured disturbing video footage showing the armed man shooting victims at close range on the street. Multiple bodies were visible lying on the pavement and in nearby courtyards as the violence unfolded.

Special forces stormed the convenience store after negotiations with the gunman failed during a tense 40-minute standoff, Klymenko said. Among the wounded were a security guard and a young boy, Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko confirmed.

“My condolences to the families and loved ones of the victims,” Zelenskyy wrote on social media following the incident. “We wish all the wounded a swift recovery.”

The violence didn’t begin at the supermarket. Officials said the gunman had set fire to an apartment prior to the attack, although authorities have not confirmed whether this arson resulted in additional injuries or casualties.

Ukraine’s security service has classified the incident as an act of terrorism. The rapid response by Ukrainian special forces demonstrated the country’s ability to handle security threats despite the ongoing war with Russia that has strained resources across the nation.

Law enforcement investigations revealed the shooter had previous criminal convictions but still possessed a valid weapons permit at the time of the attack. This detail raises questions about Ukraine’s gun control measures and how someone with a criminal record was able to legally obtain and keep firearms.

The National Police and the Security Service of Ukraine have launched a joint investigation into the shooter’s background and possible motivations. “All available information about him and the motives behind his actions is being thoroughly investigated,” Zelenskyy said. “Every detail must be verified.”

Hanna Kulyk, a 75-year-old neighbor of the gunman, expressed shock at his actions, describing him to The Associated Press as an “educated, refined man” who lived alone and rarely socialized. “You’d never guess he was some kind of criminal,” she said, highlighting the often inscrutable nature of such violent perpetrators.

The shooting adds another layer of trauma to a population already dealing with over two years of full-scale war. Kyiv has largely been spared from ground combat but has endured frequent missile and drone attacks throughout Russia’s invasion.

This incident comes amid heightened security concerns across Ukraine, where authorities have been vigilant about potential acts of sabotage and violence that could be connected to the broader conflict. However, officials have not yet indicated whether this shooting had any connection to the war.

For residents of Kyiv, the attack represents a jarring reminder that even as the city maintains a semblance of normalcy compared to eastern regions, violence and danger can erupt suddenly, compounding the psychological toll of living in a country at war.