Deadly Attack in Kyiv
A violent attack in Kyiv on April 18 resulted in seven fatalities and seven injuries. The assailant, a Moscow-born individual from 1968, was a retired major who served in the Ukrainian Armed Forces from 1992 to 2005. After the onset of Russian aggression, he relocated from Bakhmut to Kyiv. He legally owned two registered carbines and a traumatic pistol, with his most recent weapons permit issued based on a journalist credential. The Ukrainian Security Service (SBU) is currently reviewing how he obtained these permits.
The tragedy began with a dispute over an intercom system. The attacker first opened fire with a traumatic weapon, wounding several people. His initial victim was a neighbor he referred to as the 'director of the sixth.' He then retrieved a firearm, set an apartment on fire, and continued shooting. Outside the building, he killed his neighbor and a taxi driver, and wounded the first victim's son, his wife, her sister, and a janitor. The sister and janitor later died from their injuries. While moving toward a supermarket, he shot and killed two more individuals.
Supermarket Incident
Inside the store, he killed one employee and wounded five others. During the rampage, he barricaded himself with hostages and threatened a currency exchange worker. A special forces unit neutralized him during a storming operation. In total, seven people died, and seven victims remain hospitalized. No links between the attacker and Russian intelligence agencies have been established. The SBU is conducting a pre-trial investigation under the supervision of the Kyiv City Prosecutor's Office.
During the attack, the assailant made several statements, including: 'I couldn't take it anymore,' 'because there's going to be shooting now,' 'step away from the cash register, I'm not going to take your dollars,' and 'pigs that I'm going to waste.' He also remarked, 'He's already a corpse, his brains are lying there' and 'the youngsters along with the women attacked.'
The victims of the attack included:
- a neighbor
- a taxi driver
- a sister
- a janitor
- two people near the supermarket
- a store employee
The injured were:
- the first victim's son
- his wife
- five individuals in the store
These events have sparked widespread public concern and drawn the attention of law enforcement agencies.
The attack in Kyiv highlights growing social tensions in Ukraine, which may be linked to the prolonged Russian military aggression and its societal impacts. The absence of ties to Russian intelligence suggests the motives were likely personal, yet the incident raises serious questions about firearm accessibility and public safety. Authorities continue their investigation to uncover all details of the tragedy, aiming to prevent similar occurrences in the future.
The tragic events of April 18 have prompted a thorough investigation into the actions of law enforcement during the attack. As the Ukrainian Interior Ministry examines the police response, insights into their conduct could shed light on the effectiveness of emergency protocols in such critical situations. For more details on this ongoing inquiry, visit the investigation into police actions.