A gunman killed at least six people on the streets of Kyiv on Saturday before barricading himself inside a nearby supermarket with hostages, where he was subsequently shot dead by Ukrainian police, according to officials.
Ihor Klymenko, head of Ukraine's Interior Ministry, said in a statement posted to social media that special tactical police units stormed the store after a negotiator was unable to establish contact with the attacker. Klymenko said the gunman was killed while resisting arrest.
Attack unfolds in the capital
The incident began with the gunman opening fire on people in the streets of Kyiv before retreating into a supermarket and taking hostages. Details on the identity of the attacker and a possible motive had not been officially confirmed at the time of reporting, according to the South China Morning Post, which first reported the story.
The number of hostages taken and their condition following the police operation were not immediately disclosed by officials.
Response from authorities
Ukrainian authorities mobilized specialized units to respond to the standoff. The decision to storm the supermarket came after negotiation efforts broke down, Klymenko indicated in his statement.
The incident marks one of the deadliest domestic shooting attacks in the Ukrainian capital in recent memory, occurring as the country continues to manage the broader pressures of its ongoing war with Russia.
Further details on the victims, the attacker's background, and the full sequence of events were expected to be released by Ukrainian authorities as the investigation progressed.
