At least five people killed, gunman shot dead by police in Ukraine’s capital
The gunman who killed at least five people on the streets of Ukraine’s capital Kiev on Saturday, then took hostages and barricaded himself in a nearby supermarket, was shot and killed by police, Ukrainian officials said.
Head of the Ukrainian Ministry of Internal Affairs, Ihor Klymenko, said in a statement on social media that special tactical police units raided the store after attempts to contact the armed attacker with a negotiator failed. It was stated that the attacker was killed while resisting arrest.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that at least five people died and 10 more people were hospitalized.
Speaking to reporters at the scene, Klymenko did not comment on the attacker’s motive but said police negotiators spoke with the gunman for about 40 minutes.
“We tried to persuade him because we knew there might be someone injured inside. We even offered to bring a tourniquet to stop the bleeding, but he did not respond,” Klymenko said. “As a result, the order was given to neutralize him.”
Klymenko, who was wearing a bulletproof vest, said the man was carrying a legally registered carbine, a shorter version of the rifle.
Klymenko said, “In addition, in December 2025 of last year, he applied to the licensing authorities for a test firing of the gun because the license had expired. He submitted a medical report. He also applied to renew his gun license. This is all we can say for now.”
He added that the investigation will determine which health institution issued the certificate.
Mayor Vitali Klitschko said that the attack took place in the Holosiivskyi district of Kiev. In footage of the scene broadcast on television, police were seen hiding in the shopping mall where the supermarket was located while the shooting took place. The surrounding people were removed from the scene.
