Kyiv Mass Shooting Leaves Six Dead; Moscow-Born Gunman Killed by Special Forces

A gunman born in Moscow opened fire on pedestrians and hostages in Kyiv's Holosiivskyi district on Saturday, killing six people and wounding 14 others. The assailant was shot dead by Ukrainian special forces after barricading himself inside a supermarket. The SBU security service has designated the incident as a terrorist act.

The Details

The attack began in the leafy residential district of southern Kyiv, where the shooter targeted passersby at close range. Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko stated that the gunman approached victims directly, leaving them with very little chance of survival. Four people were killed on the street before the assailant entered a Velmart supermarket.

Inside the supermarket, the gunman took at least four hostages and killed one person. After approximately 40 minutes of failed negotiations, Ukrainian special forces (KORD) stormed the store and killed the assailant. Interior Minister Klymenko noted that authorities had attempted to persuade the gunman to surrender, even offering to bring in medical tourniquets to treat wounded individuals inside, but the shooter did not respond.

Officials confirmed that six people in total died during the spree, including one woman who succumbed to her injuries in the hospital. Among the 14 wounded is a 12-year-old boy whose parents were killed in the attack.

The assailant was identified as a 58-year-old man born in Moscow who had long resided in Ukraine's Donetsk region. While some reports mentioned uncertainty regarding his citizenship, local media indicate he is believed to have held Ukrainian citizenship. Before the shooting, the man set fire to his own apartment located near the supermarket.

Investigation into the gunman's background revealed a criminal record. Despite this, he possessed a legally registered firearm and had renewed his weapons permit in December 2025, providing a valid medical certificate at the time of renewal.

Context

Mass shootings of this nature are extremely rare in Ukraine. The last comparable incident occurred in 2025, when a dispute over a firearm sale in a Kyiv suburb resulted in two deaths. This internal violence occurs against the backdrop of a more than four-year war with Russia, during which Ukrainian cities have been under constant threat from missile and drone strikes.

Neighbors of the suspect described him as a solitary figure. One resident, Hanna Kulyk, noted that he had lived alone for about ten years and generally avoided communication with others, though he remained polite. Another neighbor described him as an 'educated, refined man.'

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy addressed the tragedy in a nightly video address, offering condolences to the families of the victims and urging a thorough investigation into the assailant's motives.

What's Next

The SBU is currently leading the investigation to establish a definitive motive for the attack. Because the incident has been classified as a terrorist act, investigators are reviewing the gunman's communications and connections to determine if he acted alone or was part of a wider plot.

Law enforcement agencies are also examining the weapons permit process. The fact that the gunman was able to renew his permit in December 2025 despite a criminal record may lead to a review of medical and background check protocols for firearm owners in Ukraine.