At least five people were killed and several others injured after a gunman opened fire in Kyiv before taking hostages inside a supermarket, Ukrainian officials said on Saturday.
The attacker reportedly began shooting in a residential area in the southern part of the capital before entering a nearby store, where further gunfire was heard. Authorities said four hostages were later rescued during a tense standoff with police.
President Volodymyr Zelensky said at least 10 people were hospitalised with injuries and trauma, while confirming that the assailant had been killed during an operation to apprehend him. He also expressed condolences to the victims’ families and called for a swift investigation.
According to Prosecutor General Ruslan Kravchenko, the suspect was a 58-year-old man reportedly armed with an automatic weapon. His motive remains unclear.
Officials said the standoff between the gunman and police negotiators lasted around 40 minutes. Interior Minister Igor Klymenko said authorities attempted to negotiate and offer medical assistance for those inside, but the suspect did not respond, prompting security forces to act.
Eyewitnesses described scenes of panic inside the supermarket, with customers rushing to hide as gunfire rang out. Security forces later sealed off the area, while investigators began examining the site.
While Ukraine has experienced isolated violent incidents, such attacks remain relatively rare despite the ongoing conflict in the region.