Kyiv Terrorist Attack: Prosecutor General Refutes Reports of Wounded Boy’s Mother’s Death, Police Investigation Ensues

On Sunday, April 19, 2026, Prosecutor General of Ukraine Ruslan Kravchenko officially refuted earlier reports regarding the death of the mother of a 12-year-old boy who was injured during the horrifying terrorist attack in Kyiv’s Holosiivskyi district. In a statement published on Ruslan Kravchenko’s official Telegram channel, he clarified that it was not the boy’s mother who passed away in the hospital from severe injuries, but her biological sister. According to Tetiana Mostepan, Director of the Health Department of the Kyiv City State Administration, the boy’s mother is still alive, though she remains in critical condition in the intensive care unit.

This tragic misidentification occurred amid the sheer chaos and large number of casualties following the unprecedented assault. The boy’s aunt, who succumbed to her injuries, had recently arrived from abroad to visit her relatives in the Ukrainian capital. The family unexpectedly found themselves at the epicenter of the tragedy when a 58-year-old Moscow native opened fire on innocent bystanders. Tragically, the child’s father died at the scene from fatal gunshot wounds while trying to protect his family.

Medical professionals in Kyiv are currently fighting tirelessly to save the mother’s life. Her condition is evaluated as stable but critical. Meanwhile, the 12-year-old boy, who also suffered gunshot wounds, is receiving comprehensive care at a specialized children’s hospital. Doctors report that his physical condition is of moderate severity and his life is no longer in immediate danger. The child is also being provided with essential psychological support to help him cope with the devastating loss of his family members.

The horrific events unfolded on April 18, when an armed man started shooting randomly at pedestrians on a street in the Holosiivskyi district. After murdering several people, the assailant stormed into a nearby supermarket, taking employees and shoppers hostage. Law enforcement units, including the KORD special operations force, swiftly surrounded the building. Following failed negotiations, police launched a tactical assault on the premises. The terrorist violently resisted and was subsequently liquidated by special forces. The rampage resulted in six civilian deaths and left 14 others injured. The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) and the Prosecutor General’s Office have classified the incident as a terrorist act.

In the aftermath of the massacre, intense public scrutiny has been directed at the actions of certain police officers. Video footage circulating on social media allegedly shows patrol officers retreating from the scene during the critical moments of the shooting, abandoning civilians, including the wounded child, without providing protection. In response to the public outcry, Minister of Internal Affairs Ihor Klymenko and National Police Chief Ivan Vyhivskyi immediately launched an internal investigation. The officers identified in the footage have been suspended from duty pending a thorough review.

Furthermore, Prosecutor General Kravchenko announced that criminal proceedings have been initiated under Part 3 of Article 367 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, which addresses official negligence leading to severe consequences. The State Bureau of Investigations (DBR) is handling the pre-trial probe. Kravchenko assured the public that all law enforcement actions during the crisis will be rigorously evaluated. “Society will receive answers, and the guilty will face lawful punishment. Justice will be ensured,” Kravchenko emphasized, promising a comprehensive overhaul of police emergency response protocols.