Kyiv: A gunman who killed at least six people in Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv, before taking hostages and barricading himself inside a supermarket on Saturday has been shot dead by police, Ukrainian officials said.

Ukraine’s special tactical police units entered the store after attempts to negotiate with the gunman failed, according to a statement from the head of the country’s Interior Ministry, Ihor Klymenko. He said the attacker was killed while resisting arrest.

Klymenko stated that officers had tried to establish contact with the suspect through a negotiator for around 40 minutes before launching the operation.

Victims shot in street and inside store

Speaking from the scene, Klymenko said the gunman first shot and killed four people on the street before entering the supermarket, where he killed a fifth victim.

Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko later confirmed that a sixth victim, a young woman, died in hospital from her injuries.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said four hostages were rescued during the operation and that at least 14 people were injured in the incident.

Police negotiations before assault

Klymenko said the shooter was born in 1968, but authorities have not released further identity details. He added that negotiators spoke to the attacker for approximately 40 minutes before the decision was made to storm the building.

A female police negotiator was seen using a loudspeaker from behind an armoured vehicle, urging the gunman to release the hostages. She said, “the people are not to blame for this. Please, let them go and we will talk with you.”

Klymenko said officers even offered to send medical aid, including tourniquets, but received no response. “Consequently, the order was given to neutralise him,” he said.

Gunman’s background 

Zelenskyy later said on social media that the attacker was originally from Russia and had lived for a long time in Ukraine’s eastern city of Donetsk. He also said the suspect had set fire to his apartment before going into the street armed.

Klymenko said the man was carrying a legally registered carbine, a short-barrel assault rifle. He added that last December the suspect had approached licensing authorities for a test firing of the weapon as his permit was expiring and had provided a medical certificate along with an application to renew it.

Attack location

The shooting took place in Kyiv’s Holosiivskyi district, according to the mayor. Television footage showed police taking cover inside a shopping mall that housed the supermarket as gunfire was heard, while civilians were escorted away from the area.

Agency inputs