"Holosiiv Shooter" could have obtained a weapons permit as a journalist - Prosecutor General Kravchenko

The man who carried out the deadly shooting in the Holosiiv district of the capital may have obtained a gun permit based on a journalist's ID. This is stated in a post by Prosecutor General Ruslan Kravchenko dedicated to the investigation of these tragic events, writes UNN.

The man is a native of Moscow, born in 1968, a military pensioner.

From 1992 to 2005, he served in the ranks of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in various positions related to the maintenance of automotive equipment. Retired Major. After the start of Russian aggression, he moved to Kyiv from Bakhmut.

"He was held criminally liable but owned two registered carbines and a traumatic pistol. He obtained the latest gun permit based on an alleged journalist's ID issued by one of the public organizations. The circumstances of obtaining the permit documentation for the weapon are currently being checked by the SBU." – Prosecutor General reported.

At the same time, no ties to Russia have been found yet. The investigation of the crime is being handled by the SBU.

"The investigation checked the version regarding possible ties of the attacker to Russian special services. Currently, no such ties have been established.

Final conclusions regarding the motives, mental state, and sanity of the shooter at the time of committing the crime will be made after the completion of posthumous forensic psychological and psychiatric examinations," - Prosecutor General reported.

According to the investigation, the "trigger" for the tragedy on April 18 was another dispute over the intercom, which the killer repaired himself; however, after that, some residents could not enter the building.

During the conflict near the entrance, the attacker first opened fire with traumatic weapons, injuring several people. When the ammunition ran out, he threw away the pistol, went up to his apartment, took firearms, set the premises on fire, and returned to the street, where he continued shooting. Near the house, the shooter killed a neighbor and a taxi driver. He also injured the son of the first deceased, his wife, her own sister, and the janitor who shielded a child with his body. Later, the sister and the janitor died from the fatal wounds received", - provides the chronology of events Prosecutor General.

The perpetrator recorded his actions on audio. After the first murders, the man, moving toward the supermarket, continued firing and shot dead two more people. At the same time, he selectively warned individual passersby to run away, "because there will be shooting now".

"In the store, the attacker walked between the rows, threatened people with a weapon, and shot the employee. In addition, five more people were injured in the store," - reported Ruslan Kravchenko.

Further, barricading himself with hostages, he addressed the currency exchange point employee with a demand to immediately leave the cash register and call a representative for negotiations. The man threatened to shoot through the doors and kill the woman if she refused. According to the Prosecutor General, he was not interested in money, shouting: "get out of the cash register, I won't take your dollars".

"The man justified all his actions by "self-defense" from an alleged group attack by four people near the entrance, claiming that "youngsters along with women came at him." He appealed to his military experience and rank of major, stating that he "could not tolerate it anymore." At the same time, he demonstrated extreme cynicism, commenting on the neighbor's murder: "He's already a corpse, his brains are lying there"", - reported the Prosecutor General.

As a result of the terrorist attack, seven people died. Seven victims remain in the hospital.

Death toll from the shooting attack in Kyiv has risen to seven20.04.26, 10:19 • 3998 views

Addition

On April 18 in the Holosiiv district of the capital, a 58-year-old native of Moscow opened fire, killing five people, after which he barricaded himself in a supermarket premises and held hostages. He used registered firearms. At the same time, a fire broke out in the apartment where the attacker was registered.

Later, two more people died in the hospital. 

The shooter was eliminated.

For the shooting of civilians and hostage-taking in the capital, a criminal proceeding has been initiated under Part 3 of Article 258 (terrorist act that led to the death of people) of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.

Also, for the improper performance of official duties by police officers during the terrorist attack in the capital on April 18, 2026, a criminal proceeding has been initiated .Legal qualification of the criminal offense: Part 3 of Article 367 (official negligence that caused serious consequences) of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. They were remanded in custody with the possibility of bail, which was posted.