Terrorist Attack in Kyiv: What is Known About the Attacker and the Consequences

The shooter's name is Dmitry Vasilyevich Vasilchenkov, born in 1968 in Moscow. He holds Ukrainian citizenship and previously resided in Bakhmut, Donetsk region, and later in the Holosiivskyi district of Kyiv.

"It is known that the attacker set fire to his apartment before taking to the streets with a weapon. He had a prior criminal record," President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy wrote on Telegram.

According to him, investigators are currently uncovering everything possible about the shooter: determining his motivation and checking his electronic devices and online accounts.

The death toll from the shooting in the Holosiivskyi district has risen to six. Fifteen people were injured, nine of whom were hospitalized. Six others received medical assistance on-site, including a four-month-old infant who suffered carbon monoxide poisoning in an apartment adjacent to the one set on fire by the shooter. A boy born in 2015, whose parents were both shot dead by the criminal, was also taken to the hospital.

A criminal case has been opened under Part 3 of Article 258 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine — a terrorist act resulting in the death of people, according to Prosecutor General Ruslan Kravchenko.

Examples of social media posts made by the terrorist are spreading rapidly online. These texts are a wild mix of pro-Russian, pro-Nazi, and anti-Semitic views, alongside criticisms of Girkin-Strelkov (claiming he failed to complete the "operation" in Sloviansk). He also recalled the explosions at the arsenal in Balakliya, Kharkiv region, expressing a desire to repeat them in Kyiv.

While it appears to be a case of spring-onset schizophrenia, it remains a mystery how a mentally ill person could have served in the military (media reports suggest Vasilchenkov was a professional soldier).

"Everything that can be known about him and why he did this is currently being clarified. Every detail must be checked. Investigators are working on several leads. All his electronic devices, phone, and all connections will be examined. The Minister of Internal Affairs, the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), and the Prosecutor General will keep the public informed. All verified information must be provided to our people," Zelenskyy stated on his official Telegram channel.