Five people have been killed and 10 others injured the Ukrainian capital Kyiv after a man opened fire with an automatic weapon. Mayor Vitali Klitschko said the injured included a child, while Internal Affairs Minister Ihor Klymenko confirmed that the suspect had been killed by special forces.
Reports suggest he went into a supermarket in the Holosiivskyi area of the city, where he took four hostages who were rescued safely. Special forces were at the scene on Demeevskaya Street, where they neutralised the gunman, who has been identified by the Ukrainian Prosecutor General as a 58-year-old Moscow native.
A shocking video showed the shooter brandishing his automatic weapon in the supermarket where he was reportedly holding hostages.
A fire also broke out at the scene amid suspicions that explosives had been ignited. MP Oleksii Goncharenko said: “A fire can be seen from the side of the Velmart supermarket, where the terrorist barricaded himself with hostages.”
Klitschko said the injured child was taken to hospital, while adults were examined and treated at the scene by medical staff. He said: “Among those injured on the street in the Holosiivskyi district is a child.
“Medical staff are taking him to hospital. Injured adults are being examined and treated at the scene.”
Klymenko later confirmed the shooter was killed during the Rapid Operational Response Unit police operation at Velmart Supermarket on Holosiivskyi prospekt in Kyiv.
He said: “The gunman was killed during his arrest in Kyiv. Special forces from the National Police’s KORD unit stormed the store where the attacker was located. He had taken people hostage and fired at police officers during the arrest.
“Prior to this, negotiators had attempted to make contact with him. The number of victims is being determined. There are fatalities and injuries.”
Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed that an investigation into the shooting has been launched by the police and security service.
The Ukrainian President said: “Ukraine’s Minister of Internal Affairs, Ihor Klymenko, has just reported that the attacker who opened fire on civilians in Kyiv has been neutralized. The full circumstances are being investigated.
“Five fatalities have been confirmed so far. My condolences go out to the families and loved ones of the victims. As of now, 10 people have been hospitalized with injuries. Everyone is receiving the necessary assistance.
“Four hostages were successfully rescued. We are counting on a prompt investigation. Investigators from the National Police and the Security Service of Ukraine are working on the case.
“I have instructed the Minister of Internal Affairs and the Head of the National Police of Ukraine to provide the public with all verified information regarding this incident.”
