A mass shooting in Kyiv on Saturday has left at least six people dead and more than a dozen injured after a gunman opened fire in the Holosiivskyi district before taking hostages inside a supermarket, Ukrainian authorities confirmed.

According to officials, the attacker—identified as a 58-year-old man originally from Moscow—began shooting indiscriminately at civilians on the street, killing several people before fleeing into a nearby store. There, he barricaded himself inside and held multiple hostages, triggering a large-scale security operation.

Ukraine’s Prosecutor General Ruslan Kravchenko said the suspect used an automatic weapon and had a prior criminal record. Authorities also revealed that the man had previously lived in Donetsk Oblast and had recently set fire to his apartment before carrying out the attack.

Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko reported that special police units stormed the supermarket after negotiations with the gunman failed. The suspect reportedly refused to communicate and opened fire on officers during the standoff, prompting elite KORD forces to neutralize him.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed that at least six people were killed—four on the street, one inside the supermarket, and another who later died from injuries in hospital. Four hostages were rescued during the operation, while at least 14 others, including a child, sustained injuries.

Security officials described the operation as highly complex due to the presence of civilians inside the building. Negotiators reportedly attempted to establish contact with the attacker for around 40 minutes, but he refused all communication, leaving authorities with limited options.

“The situation was critical, with many lives at risk,” a law enforcement source said, noting that rapid intervention was necessary to prevent further casualties.

Ukraine’s Security Service has launched an investigation into the incident, which is being treated as a possible act of terrorism. Authorities are working to determine the motive behind the attack, which remains unclear.

Officials also confirmed that the weapon used by the attacker was legally registered, raising questions about firearm oversight and background checks.

Mass shootings of this scale are rare in Ukraine, a country already strained by ongoing conflict. The attack has sparked renewed concern over internal security and public safety in major urban areas.

Emergency services continue to assist victims, while officials warn that casualty figures could still change as investigations progress. (ILKHA)