Kyiv Mass Shooting: 58-Year-Old Ukrainian Army Major Kills 7, Wounds 7

Deadly Attack in Holosiivskyi District

According to Главком: A 58-year-old man originally from Moscow carried out a mass shooting in Kyiv's Holosiivskyi district on April 18, leaving 7 dead and 7 injured. The attacker was a military retiree with the rank of major, who served in the Armed Forces of Ukraine from 1992 to 2005. Following the onset of Russian aggression, he relocated to Kyiv from Bakhmut. Investigators have found no evidence linking him to Russian intelligence agencies.

According to reports, the first victim was a neighbor whom the attacker derisively called 'director of number six.' The rampage was triggered by a domestic argument over an intercom system. The assailant initially opened fire with a traumatic weapon, then went up to his apartment, retrieved a firearm, set his own home on fire, and returned to the street. Outside the building, he killed the neighbor and a taxi driver. Wounded were the first victim's son, his wife, her sister, and a janitor. The sister and janitor later died from their injuries; the janitor shielded a child at the critical moment.

Escalation and Aftermath

As he moved toward a supermarket, the attacker shot and killed two more people. Inside the store, he killed an employee and wounded 5 others. He then barricaded himself in a currency exchange booth, demanding negotiations. A special KORD unit neutralized him during the assault.

The attacker possessed two registered carbines and had obtained a permit for the traumatic weapon using a forged journalist ID. Police General Yevgeniy Zhukov resigned as head of the Patrol Police Department due to the inaction of patrol officers, who fled the scene immediately after the first shots. The National Police have launched an internal investigation into the officers' conduct, and two patrolmen have been suspended. A criminal case has been opened for dereliction of duty by police.

As of now, investigators have not established any ties between the attacker and Russian special services.

“The perpetrator showed particular hostility toward a neighbor he contemptuously called 'director of number six.' That neighbor was the first victim,” the Prosecutor General's Office stated.

“During the conflict near the entrance, the attacker first opened fire with a traumatic weapon,” the agency added.

The incident has sparked widespread public outrage and raised serious questions about the effectiveness of law enforcement in ensuring public safety. The police general's resignation and the internal probe into the patrol officers' actions highlight the severe consequences that can result from negligence in duty. Such tragedies underscore the urgent need for stricter gun control and faster response to emerging threats in society.

The tragic events in Kyiv have raised numerous questions about the response of law enforcement during such critical incidents. In this context, recently released bodycam footage from the attack provides crucial insights into the actions of police officers on the scene and the ensuing chaos. Understanding these details is essential for comprehending the broader implications of the attack and the subsequent investigation.