Terrorist attack in the Holosiivskyi District: new details emerge about the shooter's preparations
The gunman who carried out a mass shooting in the Holosiivskyi district of Kyiv had been planning the attack in advance. According to the investigation, he practiced with a weapon at home and recorded his actions on video and audio. Prosecutor General Ruslan Kravchenko reported this on Facebook and released a complete chronology of events from that day and a detailed profile of the attacker.
The man who carried out the bloody shooting in the Holosiivskyi district of Kyiv did not act spontaneously—he systematically prepared for the attack and rehearsed his actions even before the tragedy. This was reported by Prosecutor General Ruslan Kravchenko, who released details of the investigation and a chronology of events.
According to the investigation, the attacker is a native of Moscow, born in 1968, and a military retiree. He previously served in the Armed Forces of Ukraine and held the rank of major (retired). After the war began, he moved to Kyiv from Bakhmut. Despite previous run-ins with the law, he legally owned firearms—two carbines and a non-lethal pistol. According to the prosecutor, he obtained the latest permit using a press pass, the authenticity of which is currently being verified.
Investigators determined that the man trained at home. Videos found on his phone show him practicing how to quickly draw his weapon and fire it. At the same time, he recorded aggressive monologues in which he threatened people and expressed hatred. “He called people ‘pigs’ whom he would ‘beat up’ and used hate speech,” the prosecutor general said.
The first conflict occurred near the building’s entrance over the intercom. During the argument, the man opened fire with a non-lethal weapon. When he ran out of ammunition, he went up to his apartment, grabbed a firearm, set the apartment on fire, and returned to the street.
The situation then quickly spiraled out of control. Near the building, he shot and killed a neighbor and a taxi driver, wounding several other people, including relatives of the deceased and a janitor who was shielding a child. Two of them later died in the hospital.
After that, the attacker headed to a supermarket, continuing to shoot along the way. There, he killed another person and wounded several shoppers. Witnesses say that at times he warned people to run away, “because there’s going to be shooting.”
Inside the store, the man behaved aggressively, brandished a weapon, and attempted to negotiate while barricading himself inside. He wasn’t interested in money. “Get out of the cash register; I won’t take your dollars,” he shouted at an employee.
He explained his actions as alleged self-defense following a conflict near the building’s entrance and cited his military experience. At the same time, according to the prosecutor, he behaved cynically and made no attempt to hide his aggression. “He’s already a corpse; his brains are all over the place,” he said, commenting on the murder of his neighbor. During the special forces’ assault, the attacker was neutralized. Seven people were killed in the attack, and seven more remain in hospitals.
Investigators also examined the possibility of links to Russian intelligence agencies, but there is currently no evidence to support this. Final conclusions regarding the attacker’s motives and mental state will be drawn after forensic examinations are conducted.
One possible cause of the terrorist attack that occurred in Kyiv on April 18 could have been a domestic conflict that provoked the attacker to carry out the attack. At the same time, final conclusions will be drawn after all forensic examinations are completed.
Earlier, footage from the Kyiv terrorist’s apartment was released.
The attack took place on Saturday, April 18, when 58-year-old Dmytro Vasylchenkov opened fire on pedestrians on Demiivska Street, after which he took hostages at the “Velmart” supermarket. As a result of the attack, six people were killed, and about 15 others were injured to varying degrees.
Earlier, a video appeared online showing police officers fleeing from the shooter during the terrorist attack in Kyiv on April 18, leaving civilians behind, including a child.
