A gunman has reportedly opened fire in a supermarket in the Ukrainian capital and taken hostages
Horrifying scenes have unfolded in a supermarket today after reports a lone gunman opened fire and took hostages.
Officials have confirmed two people have tragically been killed in the alarming incident which unfolded in the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv. At least 10 have also been injured, including a child.
Harrowing video footage shows the shooter brandishing his automatic weapon in the Velmart supermarket while holding hostages.
Soon after, Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko said Ukrainian special forces said the threat was “eliminated”. The shooter has since been identified as Dmitry Vasylchenkov, 57, born in Moscow but held Ukrainian citizenship.
“Special forces of the National Police stormed the store where the attacker was holed up,” said a statement.
“He took people hostage and shot at a police officer during the detention.“Before that, negotiators tried to contact him.”
The shooter was also armed with a Kel-Teс Sub-2000 semi-automatic carbine—a weapon that can be purchased by any able-bodied Ukrainian citizen over 25 years of age with a hunting license.
Earlier, Mayor Vitali Klitschko said: “Two people died in a shooting in the Goloseevsky district of Kyiv. The shooter is still in the supermarket.“Five people who were injured in a shooting on the street have been hospitalised in a metropolitan hospital.“Among them is one child [and] a security guard of the supermarket, where the shooter broke in and where he is currently located.”
