In the aftermath of a tragic shooting in Kyiv that resulted in the deaths of seven individuals, authorities have provided a detailed account of the events leading up to the attack. The incident, which occurred on April 18, has been characterized by investigators as a premeditated act of violence.
According to Prosecutor General Ruslan Kravchenko, the shooter, a 55-year-old man originally from Moscow, had a military background as a retired major. He served in various roles related to automotive maintenance from 1992 to 2005. Investigators have not yet established any connections to Russian entities.
The assailant had a criminal history and possessed two registered rifles and a traumatic pistol, the latter of which he acquired using a press credential. The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) is currently examining these circumstances.
“Analysis of the shooter’s mobile phone revealed systematic preparation for a mass shooting,” stated Kravchenko.
Evidence collected from the shooter’s phone included videos where he practiced quickly preparing his weapon and aiming. These recordings also captured his aggressive monologues, in which he referred to people derogatorily and expressed violent sentiments toward Ukrainians, including using Nazi greetings.
The conflict that triggered the shooting reportedly began over a dispute involving an intercom system. During this confrontation, the shooter initially used his traumatic weapon, injuring several individuals. After exhausting his ammunition, he retreated to his apartment, retrieved a firearm, and set his residence on fire before returning to the street.
Once outside, he fatally shot his neighbor and a taxi driver, while also injuring the neighbor’s son, his wife, her sister, and a doorman who attempted to shield a child. The doorman and the sister later succumbed to their injuries.
“The shooter recorded his actions on audio. After the initial murders, he continued firing as he moved toward a supermarket, killing two more people,” Kravchenko reported.
Inside the supermarket, the assailant threatened patrons with his weapon, resulting in the death of a store employee and injuries to five others. He barricaded himself with hostages, demanding that a currency exchange employee leave her post to negotiate. He expressed no interest in money, insisting, “I won’t take your dollars.”
The shooter justified his actions as self-defense against an alleged group attack, claiming he had been confronted by a group of four individuals. He invoked his military experience to rationalize his violent behavior, displaying a lack of remorse in his comments about the killings.
During a subsequent police operation, the shooter was killed. The attack has left seven people dead, with seven others currently hospitalized.
Final assessments regarding the shooter’s motives, mental state, and legal accountability will be conducted following posthumous psychological evaluations, as noted by the Prosecutor General.
Background information indicates that the shooting incident began as a domestic dispute and escalated into a mass shooting. The Ministry of Internal Affairs confirmed that the assailant used registered firearms during the attack.
- On April 18, a man opened fire in the Holosiivskyi district of Kyiv, killing seven local residents and injuring over ten others. The shooter was subsequently neutralized.
- According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the assailant employed registered firearms.
- Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko later revealed that the incident originated from a domestic conflict and that the shooter recorded his actions.
A recent shooting in Kyiv has led to the deaths of seven individuals, with authorities detailing the shooter's background and the sequence of events that unfolded. Investigations are ongoing to determine the motives and psychological state of the assailant.