At least six people have been killed and several others injured after a gunman opened fire in Kyiv on Saturday, according to Ukrainian officials. The tragic event occurred in the southern Holosiivskyi district, with Ukraine's Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko stating that the local man began shooting at individuals on the street before taking hostages in a nearby supermarket.
Klymenko reported that the shooter was killed during a confrontation with police, but the underlying motive for the attack is still unknown. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed that while four victims were shot on the street, a woman in her 30s later succumbed to her injuries in the hospital. The assailant also reportedly killed one of the hostages.
During tense negotiations, police attempted to persuade the shooter for about 40 minutes while he remained barricaded inside the supermarket. Klymenko noted that the man was acting 'chaotically' and had not made any specific demands. Despite offers to provide medical assistance to injured hostages, the situation escalated when the shooter killed another hostage, prompting an order to eliminate him and subsequently allowing for the rescue of four other hostages.
The shooter, identified as a 58-year-old from Moscow, had used an automatic weapon that was legally registered. Investigations are underway to determine how the shooter obtained his firearm and the details surrounding the circumstances. Interestingly, President Zelensky revealed that the assailant had lived in the conflict-affected eastern Donetsk region, and had reportedly set fire to his apartment prior to the attack.
While Kyiv has experienced numerous attacks during the ongoing conflict with Russia, such shootings are relatively rare in the city.
Klymenko reported that the shooter was killed during a confrontation with police, but the underlying motive for the attack is still unknown. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed that while four victims were shot on the street, a woman in her 30s later succumbed to her injuries in the hospital. The assailant also reportedly killed one of the hostages.
During tense negotiations, police attempted to persuade the shooter for about 40 minutes while he remained barricaded inside the supermarket. Klymenko noted that the man was acting 'chaotically' and had not made any specific demands. Despite offers to provide medical assistance to injured hostages, the situation escalated when the shooter killed another hostage, prompting an order to eliminate him and subsequently allowing for the rescue of four other hostages.
The shooter, identified as a 58-year-old from Moscow, had used an automatic weapon that was legally registered. Investigations are underway to determine how the shooter obtained his firearm and the details surrounding the circumstances. Interestingly, President Zelensky revealed that the assailant had lived in the conflict-affected eastern Donetsk region, and had reportedly set fire to his apartment prior to the attack.
While Kyiv has experienced numerous attacks during the ongoing conflict with Russia, such shootings are relatively rare in the city.
