Credited from: CHANNELNEWSASIA
In Kyiv, a tragic shooting on Saturday resulted in at least six deaths and numerous injuries as a gunman opened fire in the Holosiivskyi district before barricading himself inside a supermarket. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that among the victims, one was a hostage, four were killed on the street, and another succumbed to injuries in the hospital. A total of 14 individuals were reported injured, including a 12-year-old child, according to multiple sources including BBC, South China Morning Post, and CBS News.
The 58-year-old assailant, identified as a native of Moscow, was killed during a police operation after failing to surrender during negotiations that lasted approximately 40 minutes. Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko commented, "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." This incident is now being investigated as a terrorist act by Ukraine's Security Service, per South China Morning Post, Le Monde, and Channel News Asia.
During the chaotic scene, which unfolded in a busy area of the city, witnesses described the horror as the shooter moved through the streets, firing at people without warning. Following the attack, police engaged in a tactical operation to neutralize him after he shot at officers during the standoff, as reported by Los Angeles Times, NPR, and Channel News Asia.
Eyewitness accounts have painted a picture of a man who seemed out of place among his neighbors, with reports indicating he had set fire to his apartment prior to the shooting. The investigation continues to uncover the specific motives behind this tragic act of violence, as officials stress the rarity of such events in Ukraine, particularly in light of the ongoing war, according to South China Morning Post and Le Monde.