Kyiv Police Chief Yevhen Zhukov Resigns After Officers Fled Saturday Mass Shooting
Yevhen Zhukov, the head of Ukraine's patrol police, has stepped down after footage emerged appearing to show officers fleeing a mass shooting in Kyiv. The incident on Saturday in the capital's southern Holosiivskyi district saw a man open fire, killing six people and injuring 14, before taking hostages in a supermarket. He was later killed during a shoot-out with police.
Online footage, widely shared, seemingly depicts uniformed officers abandoning civilians and running from the scene. Ukraine's Interior Minister, Igor Klymenko, confirmed the officers' suspension, stating an investigation into their conduct is underway. Klymenko emphasised, "'Serve and protect' is not just a slogan. It must be supported by appropriate professional actions. Especially at critical moments, when people's lives depend on it." However, he cautioned against generalising about the entire police force based on the actions of two individuals.
Zhukov, a combat officer, announced his resignation at a Sunday news conference, acknowledging the officers "failed to assess the situation properly and left civilians in danger," branding their actions "unprofessional and unworthy."
President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned the officers' "inaction," stating they were "at the scene of the crime, but did not stop the murderer, and fled on their own." A criminal investigation by Ukraine's national investigations bureau will also review their prior work. Zelensky highlighted the profound impact of such losses, particularly when the country is enduring daily casualties from Russian strikes.
Authorities are treating the shooting as a terrorist act, although a motive remains undisclosed. The shooter, identified as a 58-year-old man from Moscow who had previously resided in the Russian-occupied Donetsk region, had a legally registered firearm. Investigations are now focusing on how he obtained the necessary documents to renew his licence. Eight people remain hospitalised, with one adult in an "extremely serious condition."
