Kyiv was rocked on Saturday after a gunman opened fire in a residential district supermarket, killing five people and briefly taking hostages before being killed by security forces, officials said.
Ukrainian authorities said at least 10 others were hospitalised with injuries and trauma following the attack, which unfolded in the city’s southern area.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed that the attacker was neutralised during a police operation and extended condolences to the victims’ families, adding that four hostages were rescued from the supermarket.
Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said the suspect entered the store after opening fire outside, prompting panic and a police response.
An AFP reporter at the scene observed a heavy security presence around the cordoned-off supermarket, with blood stains visible on the shopfront and forensic teams carrying out investigations.
Ukrainian Prosecutor General Ruslan Kravchenko identified the suspect as a 58-year-old man born in Moscow, who reportedly used an automatic weapon during the attack. The motive remains unclear.
Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko said negotiations between police and the suspect lasted around 40 minutes before the decision was made to intervene after the gunman allegedly killed one hostage and refused to cooperate.
Eyewitnesses described scenes of chaos inside the store as customers fled or hid during the shooting.
Authorities have launched a full investigation into the incident, which comes despite Ukraine’s relatively low crime rate amid its ongoing war with Russia.
