The head of Ukraine's patrol police, Yevhen Zhukov, has resigned after two of his officers faced criticism for allegedly fleeing a deadly mass shooting in the capital, Kyiv. Six people died and 14 others were injured on Saturday after a man opened fire on people in the street in Kyiv's southern Holosiivskyi district before taking others hostage in a nearby supermarket. He was later killed in a shoot-out with police.
Footage has since been shared online appearing to show officers leaving civilians and running away from the scene. Ukraine's Interior Minister Igor Klymenko stated that the officers in question had been suspended and an investigation into their actions was underway. 'Serve and protect' is not just a slogan, Klymenko emphasized, highlighting the importance of professional actions during critical moments.
Zhukov acknowledged the failure of the officers to assess the situation properly and left civilians in danger, describing their actions as unprofessional. He has chosen to resign as a combat officer, taking responsibility for the oversight.
The Ukrainian authorities are treating the shooting as a terrorist act, with investigations into the shooter's motivations ongoing. The shooter, who had a history of instability, killed six individuals and injured many others before being shot by police. Among the victims, one was the father of an injured child, highlighting the personal toll of the tragedy.
Further investigations are focusing on how the shooter, a 58-year-old man originally from Moscow, managed to obtain licenses for his firearms. While attacks are common during the ongoing war with Russia, shootings of this nature are atypical in Kyiv, raising significant concerns about public safety and law enforcement accountability.
Footage has since been shared online appearing to show officers leaving civilians and running away from the scene. Ukraine's Interior Minister Igor Klymenko stated that the officers in question had been suspended and an investigation into their actions was underway. 'Serve and protect' is not just a slogan, Klymenko emphasized, highlighting the importance of professional actions during critical moments.
Zhukov acknowledged the failure of the officers to assess the situation properly and left civilians in danger, describing their actions as unprofessional. He has chosen to resign as a combat officer, taking responsibility for the oversight.
The Ukrainian authorities are treating the shooting as a terrorist act, with investigations into the shooter's motivations ongoing. The shooter, who had a history of instability, killed six individuals and injured many others before being shot by police. Among the victims, one was the father of an injured child, highlighting the personal toll of the tragedy.
Further investigations are focusing on how the shooter, a 58-year-old man originally from Moscow, managed to obtain licenses for his firearms. While attacks are common during the ongoing war with Russia, shootings of this nature are atypical in Kyiv, raising significant concerns about public safety and law enforcement accountability.
