Ukraine police chief resigns after officers allegedly fled deadly shooting

The head of Ukraine’s patrol police, Yevhen Zhukov, resigned following widespread criticism after two officers allegedly fled the scene during a deadly mass shooting in Kyiv. The attack, which occurred in the southern Holosiivskyi district, resulted in six deaths and 14 injuries when a man opened fire on civilians before taking hostages in a nearby supermarket. The shooter was ultimately killed in a police shootout. Video footage circulated online appeared to show officers abandoning civilians and retreating from the scene, prompting an investigation and suspension of the officers involved. Ukraine’s Interior Minister Igor Klymenko condemned the officers’ actions, emphasizing that the police’s duty to “serve and protect” is critical, especially during life-threatening situations. However, he cautioned against generalizing the behavior of all police personnel based on this incident. Zhukov acknowledged the officers’ failure to properly assess the situation and their unprofessional conduct, which led to his decision to step down. The authorities are treating the shooting as a terrorist act, though the motive remains unclear. Officials noted the attacker’s mental instability and that he had set fire to his apartment before the rampage. President Volodymyr Zelensky criticized the officers for their inaction and confirmed that a criminal case is underway to investigate their conduct and prior records. Zelensky expressed sorrow over the loss of life in a peaceful city amid the ongoing war with Russia, highlighting the tragedy of civilians dying outside the context of conflict. Among the victims were family members, including a father and his child who was injured, and the child’s aunt. The shooter was identified as a 58-year-old man originally from Moscow who had recently been living in Kyiv’s Holosiivskyi district. Prior to that, he resided in the eastern Donetsk region, an area largely under Russian control. The incident has intensified scrutiny of police response protocols in Ukraine’s capital during crises and raised concerns about public safety amid the country’s broader security challenges.