Six Dead Following Rare Mass Shooting and Hostage Situation in Kyiv

A rare mass shooting in Kyiv has left at least six people dead and nearly a dozen others injured after a gunman opened fire on civilians and took hostages on Saturday. Ukrainian authorities report that the attacker targeted people in the city’s Holosiivskyi district before moving into a supermarket.

According to Ukraine’s Attorney General Ruslan Kravchenko, the shooter was identified as a 58-year-old man who was born in Moscow. The man initially opened fire on a street, killing four individuals. He then retreated into a nearby grocery store, where he killed a fifth person and took several shoppers hostage.

Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko confirmed that a sixth victim passed away at a local hospital. At least nine other people are currently being treated for various injuries, while six others received medical attention at the scene.

Minister of Internal Affairs Ihor Klymenko stated that police negotiators attempted to communicate with the gunman for roughly 40 minutes. When negotiations failed, special forces from a rapid response unit stormed the building. The attacker fired upon the officers and was subsequently killed during the exchange.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed that four hostages held inside the store were successfully rescued by law enforcement during the operation.

Investigators are currently looking into the motive behind the attack. Officials noted that an apartment registered to the shooter was set on fire around the time the shooting began. While Ukraine has seen an increase in weapons following the start of the 2022 conflict, mass shootings targeting civilians remain extremely rare in the country’s history.

This story is based on reports from CNN Newsource and local Ukrainian officials as the investigation into the attacker’s background continues.

Explore: NBCPalmSprings.com, where we are connecting the Valley.