Ukrainian police kill gunman who killed 6, wounded 14 in Kyiv

A gunman opened fire in central Kyiv on Saturday, killing six people and taking hostages in a supermarket before being shot dead by Ukrainian police during a tactical operation, authorities reported.

The 58-year-old attacker, whose name has not been released, killed four people on the street outside an apartment complex and shopping center in the Holosiivskyi district. Another victim was killed inside the supermarket during the hostage situation, and a sixth person died later in hospital from severe injuries.

“The assailant has been neutralized,” President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced in a video statement. He revealed that the gunman was born in Russia and had previously lived in Ukraine’s eastern Donetsk region, an area partially occupied by Russian forces since 2014 and a focal point of the current war.

According to Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko, police special forces stormed the convenience store after negotiations failed. The hostages included both customers and staff members.

“We tried to persuade him, knowing that there was likely a wounded person inside. We even offered to bring in tourniquets to stop the bleeding, but he did not respond,” Klymenko explained. “Consequently, the order was given to neutralize him.”

During the 40-minute standoff, authorities attempted to communicate with the gunman using a female negotiator positioned behind an armored vehicle. “The people are not to blame for this. Please let them go, and we will talk with you,” she urged through a loudspeaker, but received no response.

At least 14 people were wounded in the attack and transported to local hospitals. The Ukrainian Security Service (SBU) has classified the incident as an act of terrorism.

The violence marks an unusual occurrence in wartime Kyiv, which has experienced Russian missile and drone attacks since the full-scale invasion began in February 2022, but has seen few incidents of this nature. The shooting unfolded in a busy area, sending bystanders fleeing while leaving victims’ bodies on the street, which were later covered with emergency blankets before being removed.

Zelenskyy noted that the gunman had set fire to an apartment before taking to the streets with his weapon. Minister Klymenko confirmed that the attacker possessed a valid weapons permit.

Local residents expressed shock at the identity of the shooter, with some recognizing him from the neighborhood. Hanna Kulyk, a 75-year-old who lived in the same apartment building as the gunman, described him as seemingly “educated” and “refined.”

“I knew him by sight. You’d never guess he was some kind of criminal,” Kulyk said. “He didn’t socialize much with people — just a greeting and he’d be on his way. He lived alone.”

The attack comes as Ukraine continues to defend itself against Russia’s invasion, now in its third year. While Kyiv has been largely spared from ground combat, the capital has remained on high alert due to regular air raids. This incident stands apart from the war-related violence that has become commonplace across much of the country.

Ukrainian authorities have not yet established a clear motive for the shooting, though investigations are ongoing. The mention of the attacker’s Russian birth and previous residence in Donetsk raises questions about potential connections to the ongoing conflict, though officials have made no explicit links.

The incident has rattled residents of the capital, who have already endured more than two years of war-related stress and security concerns. Police presence in central Kyiv was visibly increased following the attack as authorities worked to secure the area and collect evidence.