Russian opposition journalist Arkady Babchenko has been shot dead in Kyiv's Dniprovsky district, Kyiv police press service reported.

"The 102 emergency line received a report from doctors: a woman called them and said that she had found her husband at home in a pool of blood. The man died from a wound, presumably to the back," Kyiv police spokesperson Oksana Blyschyk said in a post on her Facebook page.

Kyiv police believe that professional activity is the first most likely reason behind the death of Babchenko, Kyiv police chief Andriy Kryschenko said.

"The first the most apparent theory is his professional activity," Kryschenko told Interfax-Ukraine.

However, it is too early to speak about certain theories, he said. Asked what other theories are being looked into, he said, "it is his personal life and conflict not related to his work."

The murder took place at Babchenko's home, he said. "This is definitely not a suicide. This is a murder," Kryschenko said.

According to Kryschenko, several shot were fired at Babchenko, who later died in an ambulance.

A criminal case on charges of a premediated murder was opened.

Babchenko was killed right at the entrance to his apartment, Ukrainian MP Anton Gerashchenko said.

"There was no bread at home. Arkady went to a store. The murder waited for him at the staircase. When Arkady opened the door, the murderer meanly shot several rounds at Arkady's back," Gerashchenko wrote on his Facebook page.

"The best investigators are probing this cruel murder," he said.

"One of the theories would be actions of Russian special services to eliminate people who poison Russians with the truth about what indeed is happening in Ukraine," he said.

A composite portrait of Babchenko's murderer was made, Ukrainian National Police deputy chief Viacheslav Abroskin said on his Facebook page.

The murderer is a man aged 40-45, his height is 175-180 centimeters, white beard, wearing a dark blue cap, a jeans coat and jeans, he said.

Arkady Babchenko, 41, was a Russian opposition journalist. In February 2017, Babchenko said that he had left Russia over threats to him and his family. He lived in Prague and Israel. He has lived in Kyiv since August 2017.