Bullets tore through the aisles of a Velmart supermarket in Kyiv's Demiivka neighborhood as shoppers screamed and fled. On April 18, 2026, 57-year-old Dmytro Vasylchenkov, a Moscow-born Ukrainian citizen, killed six civilians and wounded 15 others, including a 12-year-old boy.
The attack unfolded around midday in the Holosiivskyi District. Vasylchenkov entered the store and began firing point-blank at customers. Witnesses described him moving methodically from person to person, ignoring pleas for mercy.
Ukraine's Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko recounted the horror during a press briefing later that day.
Special forces from Ukraine's National Police stormed the supermarket after negotiations failed. Officers shot and killed Vasylchenkov on site, ending the standoff at approximately 1:20 p.m. local time. No police were injured in the operation.
Among the dead were the parents of the 12-year-old boy, who suffered wounds but survived initial treatment. As of April 19, eight victims remained hospitalized, according to Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko. The boy underwent surgery for a leg injury, with doctors listing his condition as stable.
Authorities confirmed 14 to 15 people wounded in total, with injuries ranging from gunshot wounds to shrapnel from shattered shelves. Paramedics evacuated the most critical cases first, treating others on the scene amid the debris of spilled groceries and bloodied floors.
Ukraine's Attorney General Ruslan Kravchenko addressed reporters outside the cordoned-off store.
The incident was being treated as an act of terrorism. Ruslan Kravchenko, Ukraine's Attorney GeneralInvestigators scoured Vasylchenkov's background, noting his birth in Moscow and Ukrainian citizenship. Motive remained unclear as of April 19, with no immediate claim of responsibility.
Police response drew scrutiny after the assault exposed gaps in local policing. Videos circulating online showed patrol officers abandoning their posts as gunfire erupted, prompting public outrage. Patrol Police chief Andriy Nebitov resigned hours after the incident, citing responsibility for his officers' actions.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy visited the site on April 19, laying flowers at a makeshift memorial. He vowed a thorough probe into the attack and the response failures. Zelenskyy emphasized lines of investigation into possible radicalization or external influences, given Ukraine's ongoing war with Russia.
Kyiv residents gathered near the supermarket on April 19, placing candles and teddy bears outside. One survivor, 34-year-old shop assistant Olena Petrenko, hid behind a freezer during the shooting. She told reporters the gunman reloaded twice, shouting incoherently in Russian before taking hostages.
National Security Council Secretary Oleksandr Lytvynenko coordinated with intelligence agencies to examine Vasylchenkov's digital footprint. Early findings revealed no prior criminal record, but neighbors in his Holosiivskyi apartment described him as reclusive, often voicing frustration over Ukraine's wartime economy.
The attack heightened fears in a city already strained by Russia's invasion. Ukraine reported over 200 civilian deaths from Russian strikes in 2026 alone, making domestic threats a growing concern. Security experts like Andriy Kovalenko from the Information Resistance group called for bolstered supermarket patrols nationwide.
Kovalenko pointed to similar isolated shootings in Odesa and Kharkiv last year. Each case involved lone actors with unclear ties to Moscow propaganda networks. He urged faster officer training in active shooter scenarios.
International observers watched closely. U.S. Ambassador Bridget Brink condemned the violence on social media, offering FBI assistance in the terrorism probe. Russian state media framed the shooter as a disgruntled Ukrainian, denying any connection.
Funeral arrangements began for the six victims: two retirees, a teacher, a delivery driver, and the couple whose son survived. The community center in Demiivskyi hosted a vigil attended by over 500 people, many waving blue-and-yellow flags.
Investigators sealed Vasylchenkov's weapon—a semi-automatic pistol legally registered in his name. Forensics teams recovered 23 spent casings from the store's produce section, where the shooting started. The hostage group included three employees and two customers, released in phases during talks.
Ukraine's Interior Ministry announced reforms, including body cameras for all patrol units and joint drills with special forces. Klymenko promised accountability for the fleeing officers, with internal affairs launching probes into five individuals.
The supermarket chain Velmart closed all 12 Kyiv locations temporarily, installing metal detectors upon reopening. CEO Mykola Bondarenko expressed condolences, pledging compensation to families.
As Kyiv mourned, the incident underscored vulnerabilities three years into the war. With Russian forces pressing eastern fronts, urban security now demands equal attention. Authorities classified the shooting as Ukraine's deadliest domestic attack since 2022.
