At least six people lost their lives and several others were wounded after a gunman opened fire in Kyiv on Saturday, according to Ukrainian authorities.

The shooting occurred in the southern Holosiivskyi district of the capital. Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko stated that the suspect, a local resident, began firing at people in the street before entering a nearby supermarket, where he took several individuals hostage.

Klymenko confirmed that the attacker was shot and killed inside the supermarket following an exchange of gunfire with police officers. His motive has not yet been determined.

The precise number of casualties has not been fully confirmed, but President Volodymyr Zelensky said that 14 people were known to be injured, among them a 12-year-old boy.

According to Zelensky, four victims were killed on the street, while a woman believed to be about 30 years old later died in hospital. One of the hostages was also killed by the attacker.

Police negotiators communicated with the gunman for approximately 40 minutes while he remained inside the supermarket, Klymenko said. He described the suspect’s behavior as erratic and unpredictable.

“We attempted to reason with him, knowing that at least one injured person was inside,” Klymenko explained, noting that the gunman did not present any specific demands.

“We offered to deliver tourniquets and medical supplies to stop the bleeding. He gave no response, and after he killed one of the hostages, the decision was made to neutralize him.”

Officials reported that four hostages were subsequently rescued from the store.

Prosecutor General Ruslan Kravchenko identified the suspect as a 58-year-old man originally from Moscow. He said the attacker used an automatic firearm during the assault.

Authorities confirmed that the weapon was legally registered. An investigation has been launched to examine how the permit was issued and to clarify the full circumstances surrounding the shooting.

Zelensky added that the gunman had lived for many years in the eastern Donetsk region, much of which is under Russian occupation and had experienced separatist conflict prior to Russia’s full-scale invasion.

The president also stated that the suspect set fire to his apartment before leaving and carrying out the attack.

Although Kyiv has frequently faced attacks amid the ongoing war with Russia, incidents involving mass shootings of this nature are uncommon in the city.