Horrific events unfolded at a supermarket today as a single gunman opened fire and held people hostage. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reported that five individuals tragically lost their lives during the incident in Kyiv. Additionally, at least 15 others, including a child, sustained injuries according to Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko.
Disturbing video footage captured the armed shooter inside the Velmart supermarket, wielding an automatic weapon while keeping hostages. Following unsuccessful negotiations, Ukrainian special forces swiftly raided the store and neutralized the suspect, identified as Dmitry Vasylchenkov, a 57-year-old with Ukrainian citizenship originally from Moscow.
Authorities confirmed that the threat was eliminated after the intervention by the National Police special forces. The assailant, armed with a Kel-Teс Sub-2000 semi-automatic carbine, had taken individuals hostage and shot at a police officer before being subdued.
The motive behind the attack, whether linked to the conflict with Russia, remains unclear. Eyewitnesses recounted the terrorist act, including the shooting of a young girl in Kyiv and the hostage situation at the Velmart supermarket. Mayor Klitschko reported casualties and injuries in the Goloseevsky district, emphasizing the presence of the shooter in the supermarket where the tragic events unfolded.