A shooting incident in the Holosiivskyi district of Kyiv on April 18 resulted in the deaths of six individuals and left 14 others injured. The assailant, a resident of the apartment building, initiated the attack around 5 PM, targeting pedestrians and later taking hostages in a nearby supermarket.
Witnesses reported hearing gunshots and screams as the shooter emerged from the building, firing at several people, including a family with a 12-year-old boy. After moving down the street and killing two more individuals, the assailant barricaded himself inside the supermarket, where he continued to threaten hostages.
Emergency services were deployed, but their efforts were hampered by the ongoing gunfire. Negotiations with the attacker lasted approximately 40 minutes before he shot another hostage, prompting special forces to intervene. The shooter was subsequently killed, and the remaining hostages were freed.
Eyewitness accounts reveal a chaotic scene, with residents initially mistaking the sounds of gunfire for fireworks. One neighbor, Anna, described her shock upon realizing the severity of the situation. She attempted to contact the police but encountered busy lines. As smoke filled the building, she was eventually evacuated by firefighters.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy later confirmed that the shooter had a criminal record, including a prior incident in a supermarket. Reports indicate he was originally from Russia but had lived in Donetsk before moving to Kyiv.
Another resident, Hanna Mykolaivna, who lived above the shooter, noted that he had been a long-term resident and had no known family. She recounted seeing him tending to flowers just days before the incident. The assailant’s apartment was later found to be severely damaged by fire, which he had set before leaving the building.
As the shooting unfolded, multiple witnesses reported seeing the aftermath, including a woman who was shot while attempting to hide behind a car. The police confirmed that the shooter had killed four people and injured several others before reaching the supermarket.
Inside the supermarket, the situation escalated when the assailant took four customers and staff hostage. Despite efforts by law enforcement to negotiate, the situation deteriorated, leading to the fatal shooting of another hostage. The Interior Ministry confirmed that the shooter had legally registered firearms.
The Security Service of Ukraine is treating the incident as a terrorist act, with investigations ongoing. As of the evening of April 18, the body of the assailant remained inside the supermarket, and forensic teams continued their work at the scene.
Residents expressed their shock and fear, with one woman nervously waiting outside the supermarket to reach her son, who she feared might be in danger. The community is left grappling with the aftermath of this tragic event.
A shooting in Kyiv's Holosiivskyi district resulted in six fatalities and numerous injuries. The assailant, a local resident, targeted pedestrians before taking hostages in a supermarket, where he was ultimately killed by police.