The head of the Patrol Police of Ukraine, Yevhen Zhukov, announced his resignation following a high-profile incident that occurred on April 18 in the Holosiivskyi district of Kyiv. During the shooting, two patrol officers left the scene without providing assistance to injured citizens, which sparked widespread public outcry.
This is reported by Finway
Reasons for Resignation and Assessment of the Incident
Yevhen Zhukov, known by the call sign “Marshal,” emphasized that his decision to step down is a fair and responsible move. He stressed that one negative incident should not define the entire police force, although he acknowledged the actions of the two patrol officers as unprofessional and disgraceful. According to Zhukov, their behavior was unacceptable for both police officers and the entire law enforcement system.
“What happened in the Holosiivskyi district of Kyiv should not have occurred. Two of our patrol officers acted unprofessionally and disgracefully. They failed to assess the situation, did not engage with the attacker, and left injured citizens behind. This is unacceptable—for them, for the system, and for me personally”
Zhukov noted that he has been leading the Patrol Police Department since 2015 and fully understands the responsibility for the personnel, which is why he submitted his resignation. He emphasized that the investigation into the actions of the patrol officers will continue, but this situation should not undermine the daily work of thousands of law enforcement officers who fulfill their duties under challenging conditions and at the risk of their own lives.
Investigation and Government Response
It has been established that the shooting arose from a domestic conflict between neighbors, one of whom used a traumatic pistol. The police officers who arrived at the scene left without providing assistance to the injured, which led to the opening of a criminal case for official negligence with serious consequences. On April 20, two employees of the Kyiv Patrol Police Department were formally charged.
The Attorney General of Ukraine, Ruslan Kravchenko, released video footage from the body cameras of the patrol crew, which confirmed the improper actions of the law enforcement officers during the incident. Further legal assessment of their actions will be provided by the investigation and internal inquiry.
In conclusion, Zhukov emphasized the importance of public trust in the police and urged against making generalizations about the entire system based on isolated incidents, as the majority of police officers protect citizens daily and carry out their duties under difficult conditions.