Russian Gunman Kills Six in Kyiv Supermarket Terror Attack
At least six people have been killed and fourteen others injured in a mass shooting and hostage crisis in Kyiv, which Ukrainian authorities are investigating as a terrorist act. The attack occurred earlier today in the leafy Holosiivskyi district, where a 58-year-old gunman, born in Russia, opened fire on bystanders before barricading himself inside a supermarket with hostages.
Details of the Attack and Hostage Situation
President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed in his nightly video address that the shooter killed four people on the street, took hostages in the supermarket where one hostage was killed, and injured fourteen individuals, including a 12-year-old boy. A sixth victim, a young woman, later died from her injuries in the hospital. Unofficial Telegram channels reported witnesses describing the gunman moving down a street and shooting people at point-blank range without warning before entering the supermarket.
Special tactical units stormed the store after negotiations failed, resulting in the gunman being shot and killed by police. Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko stated that the shooter fired at a policeman during the arrest. The assailant was armed with a legally registered carbine, a short-barrel assault rifle, which he had recently sought to renew his permit for, including providing a medical certificate.
Investigation and Broader Context
Ukraine’s Security Service is leading the investigation into the shooting as a terrorist act. President Zelensky noted on social media that the attacker, who had lived in Donetsk for a long time, set fire to his apartment before going out armed. The investigation will also examine which medical institution issued the certificate for his weapon permit.
Shootings of this nature are extremely rare in Ukraine, raising questions about potential links to the ongoing war with Russia, though no direct connection has been confirmed. Video from the scene showed emergency crews responding, including loading bodies into ambulances. This incident highlights the severe impact of violence on civilian populations amid regional tensions.
