Gunman opens fire, takes hostages in Kyiv supermarket; police launch special operation

Sat, 18 Apr 2026 18:27:02 +0000
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by Marcus Sterling -

Gunman opens fire in Kyiv’s Holosiivskyi district, enters supermarket and takes hostages

KYIV — A man opened fire in Kyiv’s Holosiivskyi district and then entered a nearby supermarket, where he took hostages, city and national officials said. The incident occurred on April 18, 2026, and immediately drew a large law-enforcement response.

Police mounted a special operation at the supermarket to detain or neutralize the gunman, Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said, adding that the operation was proceeding while the suspect remained inside the store.

There were fatalities and multiple injuries in the attack; early official tallies reported at least two deaths while other official updates issued within hours gave higher casualty counts. Authorities continued to provide updated figures as the operation proceeded.

The shooting and hostage-taking took place in Holosiivskyi district on April 18, 2026, city and national officials confirmed as investigators and security services worked at the scene.