On 18/4, a suspect opened fire on civilians in Kyiv's Holosiivsky district, then stormed a nearby supermarket, taking hostages and barricading himself inside. The incident resulted in six fatalities and 14 injuries before the suspect was shot dead during a shootout with police. A video, published by Ukrainian media on 19/4, captured two officers in uniform and yellow reflective vests standing near a person on the ground. They quickly fled the scene as gunshots rang out, while another person collapsed onto the street.
Ukraine's Interior Minister Igor Klymenko condemned the officers' actions, stating: "This is shameful, unacceptable behavior, and a disgrace to the entire force. The two police officers have been suspended, and we are opening an investigation." However, Klymenko cautioned against "equating the entire police force based on the actions of two individuals."
President Volodymyr Zelensky also announced a comprehensive review of the patrol force's actions. He criticized their response, saying, "They were at the scene, but they did not stop the killer; they only fled. They should have acted in that situation."
Following the video's emergence, patrol police chief Yevhen Zhukov resigned from his position.
Ukraine's Chief Prosecutor Ruslan Kravchenko identified the gunman as a man born in Russia in 1968. The weapon used was a legally registered automatic rifle. Police have not yet determined the motive for the shooting, but Klymenko stated that "the attacker's psychological state was clearly unstable." He added that "it needs to be clarified how this individual obtained the necessary medical certification to renew his gun license."
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Forensic experts at the scene of the shooting in Kyiv on 18/4. Photo: AFP |
National Police Director Ivan Vygivsky revealed the suspect had served in the Ukrainian army before being discharged in 2005, then lived in Russia until 2017. Vygivsky further noted, "We checked the suspect's social media accounts. His views were negative. It cannot be said he supported Ukraine; it might have been the opposite." He added that the suspect had no relatives and "lived a reclusive life."
Minister Klymenko affirmed there would be no widespread checks on legal gun owners in Ukraine. However, he pledged to organize in-depth discussions involving members of parliament, the public, the press, and the veteran community regarding gun control laws.
Huyen Le (According to AFP, RT)
