The terrorist who opened fire in Kyiv and took hostages in a supermarket on Saturday, April 18, made no demands and absolutely refused to communicate with law enforcement. This critical information was reported by NV, citing an unnamed fighter from the Rapid Operational Response Unit (KORD) who directly participated in the storming of the building. This revelation provides crucial insight into the tense standoff and the subsequent police operation that ended the bloodshed.
The special forces operative detailed the immense complexity of the assault, describing it as one of the most challenging tactical operations police units can face outside of active frontline combat. The situation was exceptionally volatile because the perpetrator exhibited unpredictable, extremely aggressive behavior. Without a clear motive or a list of demands, negotiators had no leverage or starting point to de-escalate the crisis peacefully.
Time was rapidly running out for the hostages trapped inside the Velmart supermarket in the Holosiivskyi district. The shooter remained completely isolated, ignoring all attempts by the police to establish a communication channel. The critical turning point that forced the operational command’s hand occurred when the gunman murdered one of the hostages inside the store. Following this brutal execution, the command realized that the attacker had no intention of surrendering and ordered an immediate tactical breach to save the remaining civilians.
During the storming of the supermarket, the assailant put up fierce armed resistance. Given the immediate threat he posed to the hostages and his demonstrated willingness to kill, KORD operators had to neutralize him swiftly. The terrorist was eliminated on the spot. According to the KORD operative, the tactical execution of the assault was highly professional: no additional hostages or special forces personnel were injured or killed during the active phase of the breach. All casualties occurred prior to the storming as a result of the shooter’s initial rampage.
The tragic sequence of events began earlier that day when the unidentified heavily armed man opened fire indiscriminately on the streets of Kyiv. He ran through the neighborhood, shooting at random passersby before forcing his way into the supermarket and taking innocent people hostage. In total, this horrific act of terror claimed the lives of six people, while 14 others sustained various injuries.
Currently, investigators are conducting a comprehensive probe to uncover the terrorist’s background, the origin of his weapons, and any underlying motives that triggered this massacre. Security analysts emphasize that the perpetrator acted according to an “active shooter” pattern, prioritizing maximum casualties over negotiations. This incident has sparked intense discussions regarding public safety in rear cities, highlighting the need for enhanced preventive security measures and even faster emergency response protocols to protect civilians from such unpredictable and devastating threats.