Two officers from the Kyiv patrol police have been charged with negligence following their response to a shooting incident in the Holosiivskyi district that resulted in multiple fatalities. This announcement was made by Prosecutor General Ruslan Kravchenko.
According to the investigation, the patrol crew arrived at the scene after reports of gunfire. They encountered several injured individuals, including a child, a man, and a woman, all of whom required immediate medical assistance. Other bystanders were present, including another child.
Kravchenko emphasized that despite being armed and having the legal authority to act, the officers effectively fled the scene. Their inaction allowed an armed assailant to continue shooting at pedestrians without interruption.
From 4:35 PM to 6:00 PM on April 18, six people were killed in Kyiv as a result of the shooting. Tragically, on April 20, it was reported that another victim succumbed to their injuries, bringing the total death toll to seven.
The two officers are facing charges of negligence resulting in severe consequences, specifically the loss of life, under Article 367, Part 3 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. This provision carries a potential sentence of up to eight years in prison.
Investigators have requested that the officers be placed in custody while the case proceeds. However, as of now, the officers have not been detained, and a decision regarding their preventive measures is expected on April 21.
Details of the Shooting Incident
On April 18, a man opened fire on pedestrians in the Holosiivskyi district of Kyiv before taking hostages in a supermarket. The assailant was neutralized during a police operation to storm the store. The Security Service of Ukraine has classified the shooting of civilians as a terrorist act.
Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko has ordered an internal investigation into the actions of the police officers involved, who have been suspended from their duties during the inquiry. This decision followed the emergence of videos on social media showing the officers fleeing the scene amid the gunfire. Subsequently, Yevhen Zhukov, the head of the Patrol Police Department of Ukraine, resigned due to the officers’ conduct during the incident.
As of April 20, the number of fatalities had increased to seven after one of the injured victims passed away in the hospital.
Two Kyiv police officers are facing charges of negligence after failing to act during a shooting incident that left seven dead. The investigation highlights serious concerns about police response to emergencies.