Arms Trends in Ukraine: 13 April – 19 April, 2026

A tragic incident occurred in Kyiv last weekend—a mass shooting that claimed the lives of six civilians. It was carried out by a man with a prior military background who used a legally owned firearm. This is the first case of this magnitude during the full-scale invasion and has sparked a major public debate in Ukrainian society about permitting the possession of small arms for self-defence.
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On April 18, in Kyiv’s Holosiivskyi district, a man opened fire, leaving several dead and injured. The death toll reached 6; additionally, 9 people have been hospitalized, and another 6 received medical assistance on site, including a four-month-old infant.

The gunman began randomly shooting on the street, killing four people. The fifth victim was a hostage in the supermarket. The perpetrator was shooting people at point-blank range, so the chances of survival were very low.

A video surfaced online showing National Police officers fleeing the scene of the shooting and leaving civilians in danger. The police also left an injured person without assistance. As a result, an internal investigation has been launched, and the officers involved have been suspended from duty.

Special forces from the Rapid Operational Response Unit of the National Police carried out an assault on the store where the suspect was located. He had taken people hostage and opened fire on police during the arrest. The perpetrator was killed.

Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko reported that the attacker used a registered firearm. “He had a firearm—a carbine—which was legally registered. Moreover, in December 2025, he applied to the licensing system to have the weapon test-fired, as the permit had expired. He submitted a medical certificate. The investigation will determine which medical facility issued that certificate. He also filed an application to renew his authorization to possess this weapon.”

According to reports, the perpetrator used a Kel-Tec SUB2000 carbine chambered for a 9×21 mm cartridge. Such firearms can be purchased by civilians with the appropriate permit. A key feature of this weapon is that it can be folded in half, which significantly simplifies transportation.

According to preliminary information, the man, born in 1968, had previously served in the military and remained in the armed forces until 2005. He reportedly served in a motorized rifle logistics support unit. After completing his service, he was placed in the reserve. These details are being further verified.

Following this incident, public debate over the right to possess firearms for self-defence in Ukraine has intensified.

Heorhii Uchaikin, Chair of the Supervisory Board of the Ukrainian Gun Owners Association, wrote the following: “After such events, we must at least honestly ask whether the state should trust its citizens with the right to self-defence—or leave them to face threats on their own. A terrorist or criminal does not ask for permission and does not follow the law. They already have the means to attack. The only question is whether an ordinary person has a chance to defend themselves and their loved ones in those first, most critical minutes”. He also said that Ukrainians possess more than two million legally registered firearms, and roughly one and a half times more illegal ones. At the same time, there is no comprehensive law on civilian firearms, which should be adopted as soon as possible. (Read my earlier interview with Heorhii Uchaikin here: How the War in Ukraine Is Transforming Small Arms Use).

Meanwhile, other commentators noted that protecting civilians in urban areas is the responsibility of the police, and if firearms are distributed indiscriminately, it could lead to more incidents like this.

On April 19, Ukraine’s Minister of Interior stated that citizens should be granted the right to armed self-defence. He also promised to hold expert consultations in the near future with members of parliament, civil society, and the veteran community to prepare the final version of the draft law on civilian firearms.

On February 23, 2022, Ukraine’s parliament passed, in the first reading, draft law No. 5708 “On the Right to Civilian Firearms,” which had been introduced in 2021. Since then, the bill has still been awaiting consideration in the second reading.

On April 17, Ukraine’s Minister of Defence Fedorov announced that for the first time, a private air defence unit operating in the Kharkiv region downed a jet-powered Shahed at speeds exceeding 400 km/h.…Read more by Olena Kryzhanivska