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A gunman killed six people and wounded at least 14 others in Ukraine's capital, Kyiv, on Saturday before barricading himself inside a supermarket with hostages, where he was shot dead by police, according to Ukrainian officials and multiple media reports.

The attack began in the city's Holosiivskyi district, a leafy, central area, with the gunman opening fire on streets and courtyards before entering a nearby shopping centre, as reported by Reuters, ABC Australia, and other outlets. The incident, which Ukrainian authorities called an act of terrorism, was the deadliest mass shooting in Kyiv in years, according to the South China Morning Post, which noted that such violence is "unheard of in wartime Kyiv."

Coverage comparison

Initial reports varied widely as the situation unfolded. The BBC, citing Mayor Vitali Klitschko, reported at least two people killed and others injured, while France 24, also drawing on Klitschko's Telegram posts, said two people had died and five were injured. As police operations continued, several outlets updated their figures. Deutsche Welle (DW) and The Hindu, among others, eventually reported six deaths and at least 14 wounded, a figure consistent with statements from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko, as cited across reports.

Fox News, the South China Morning Post, and ABC Australia reported the same ultimate death toll of six, with at least 14 wounded. The Hindu also noted that at least 14 people were wounded and taken to hospital, citing authorities.

Most sources agree on the core sequence of events: the gunman, described as a 58-year-old man born in Moscow and a long-time resident of the Donetsk region, fired on civilians, then entered a supermarket where he took hostages, and was killed during an arrest attempt by special forces. However, the BBC, in its early coverage, did not include details about the gunman's background, hostage-taking, or the location of his death, likely due to the story's early stage.

Key claims

  • Fatalities and injuries: Six people died, including one hostage killed by the gunman, four people shot on the street, and a woman who died in hospital from her injuries, according to President Zelenskyy and Interior Minister Klymenko, as reported by ABC Australia, DW, Fox News, and others. At least 14 people were wounded, including a 12-year-old boy and a supermarket security guard, per Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko, as cited by multiple sources.
  • Gunman's death: The attacker was killed during an arrest attempt after a roughly 40-minute standoff in the supermarket, during which a negotiator tried to make contact, according to Klymenko, as reported by DW, ABC Australia, and the South China Morning Post. Klymenko said the gunman had taken people hostage and fired at police officers.
  • Gunman's background: Ukrainian President Zelenskyy said the gunman was born in Russia and had lived in the Donetsk region for a long time, as carried by ABC Australia, DW, and Fox News. The gunman had a prior criminal record and held a valid weapons permit, according to authorities, a detail reported by ABC Australia and Fox News. Local media said the attacker is believed to have held Ukrainian citizenship, according to DW.
  • Arson before the attack: Zelenskyy said the gunman set fire to an apartment before the rampage, though it is unclear if any injuries resulted from the fire, as reported by Fox News and ABC Australia.
  • Terrorism designation: Ukraine's SBU security service designated the incident as a "terrorist act," according to DW.

Perspectives

The attack has drawn reactions from Ukrainian leaders, who emphasized the need for a swift investigation. President Zelenskyy expressed condolences to the victims' families and wished the wounded a quick recovery, as quoted by Fox News and DW. Interior Minister Klymenko noted that police negotiators offered to bring tourniquets to a wounded person inside the supermarket but the gunman did not respond, as reported by ABC Australia.

The motive for the shooting remains unclear, with authorities working to establish circumstances, as reported by ABC Australia and DW. The incident, which occurred in a city accustomed to war since Russia's invasion, has been described by the South China Morning Post as "mass shooting — unheard of in wartime Kyiv," highlighting the shock caused by the attack. Some reports noted the gunman's Russian birth, but no source has suggested a direct link to the war or any political motive, and Ukrainian officials have not drawn such a connection.

Corrections and updates: Early reports from the BBC, France 24, and Reuters, which were among the first to report, listed lower casualty figures (two dead, five wounded). Later reports, including from DW, Fox News, and The Hindu, updated these numbers to six dead and at least 14 wounded, reflecting the evolving situation. All figures have been attributed to official statements.