By Elsie Kamsiyochi
Kyiv is still reeling after a deadly mass shooting that unfolded in one of the city’s residential districts, leaving six people dead and eight others hospitalized, according to Mayor Vitali Klitschko.
Among those receiving treatment is a child whose parents were killed during the attack, highlighting the deep human tragedy behind one of the capital’s rarest acts of public violence.
Authorities said the gunman, identified as a Russian-born man, opened fire on pedestrians with an automatic rifle on Saturday in Kyiv’s Holosiivskyi district, an area known for its parks and apartment blocks.
Witnesses described scenes of panic as families ran for cover and parents pulled children away from nearby playgrounds while shots echoed through the neighborhood. The attacker later entered a supermarket and took hostages before police stormed the building and fatally shot him after negotiations failed.
Mayor Klitschko said the injured victims continue to receive emergency medical treatment. One adult remains in critical condition, while the wounded child is reported to be in moderate condition.
The mayor assured residents that hospitals are providing all necessary care as families and officials struggle to process the aftermath of the tragedy.
By Sunday, the area around the supermarket remained sealed off by police. Bullet holes could still be seen in the glass windows, while bloodstains and flowers left by mourners marked the nearby streets. Residents described the terrifying moments when ordinary life suddenly turned into chaos. One witness said people initially did not understand what was happening until they saw others running and shouting that a man with a rifle was shooting at civilians.
The incident has also triggered a wave of criticism aimed at law enforcement. Social media footage appearing to show patrol officers retreating from the scene rather than confronting the gunman sparked public outrage.
In response, the head of Ukraine’s Patrol Police announced his resignation, calling the officers’ actions unacceptable and admitting civilians had been left exposed during the attack. The Interior Ministry has launched an internal investigation into the conduct of the officers involved.
Questions are also growing about how the suspect was able to legally obtain a firearms permit. Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko said the shooter’s mental state appeared unstable and promised a full review of the medical certification process used to approve gun ownership.
The tragedy has reopened debate in Ukraine over civilian firearm laws and whether citizens should have broader rights to armed self-defense during a time of national insecurity.
Mass shootings are extremely uncommon in Ukraine, making the attack especially disturbing for a country already burdened by war. Security officials are investigating the case as a possible act of terrorism, though no clear motive has yet been established. For many in Kyiv, the violence has left behind not only grief, but also difficult questions about public safety in a city that has already endured years of conflict.
Source Reuters