A gunman who killed at least five people in the streets of Ukraine’s capital Kyiv on Saturday before taking hostages and barricading himself in a nearby supermarket has been shot dead by police, Ukrainian officials said.
The head of Ukraine’s Interior Ministry, Ihor Klymenko, said in a statement on social media that special tactical police units stormed the store after attempts to contact the gunman with a negotiator failed. The attacker was killed while resisting arrest, he said.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said at least five people were killed and that 10 more had been hospitalised.
Speaking to reporters at the scene, Klymenko did not speculate as to the attacker’s motive, but said that police negotiators spoke with the gunman for roughly 40 minutes.
“We tried to persuade him, knowing that there was likely a wounded person inside. We even offered to bring in tourniquets to stop the bleeding, but he did not respond,” Klymenko said. “Consequently, the order was given to neutralise him.”
Klymenko, who wore body armour, said the man was carrying a carbine – a shorter version of a rifle, which was legally registered.
“Furthermore, in December of last year, 2025, he approached the licensing authorities to have the weapon test-fired as the permit was expiring. He provided a medical certificate. He had also submitted an application to renew his permit for the weapon. That is all we can say for now,” Klymenko said.
He added that the investigation will determine which medical institution issued the certificate.
The shooting took place in Kyiv’s Holosiivskyi district, Mayor Vitali Klitschko said. Televised footage of the scene showed police taking cover in the shopping mall that housed the supermarket while shots were fired. Bystanders were escorted away from the scene.
