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 said the officers in question had been suspended, with an investigation into their actions currently underway.
'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, Klymenko stated on Telegram, but cautioned against generalizing the police force based on the actions of two individuals.
In a news conference, Zhukov remarked that the officers failed to assess the situation properly, resulting in civilians being left in danger while they acted unprofessionally. Consequently, he decided to tender his resignation.
Ukrainian authorities are treating the shooting as a terrorist act but have yet to identify a motivation. Klymenko described the shooter's mental state as 'clearly unstable.' The investigation continues, with eight individuals remaining hospitalized, some in serious condition.
The shooting incident has raised serious concerns regarding police responsiveness and accountability, igniting discussions about the role of officers during critical emergencies in Ukraine.
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 said the officers in question had been suspended, with an investigation into their actions currently underway.
'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, Klymenko stated on Telegram, but cautioned against generalizing the police force based on the actions of two individuals.
In a news conference, Zhukov remarked that the officers failed to assess the situation properly, resulting in civilians being left in danger while they acted unprofessionally. Consequently, he decided to tender his resignation.
Ukrainian authorities are treating the shooting as a terrorist act but have yet to identify a motivation. Klymenko described the shooter's mental state as 'clearly unstable.' The investigation continues, with eight individuals remaining hospitalized, some in serious condition.
The shooting incident has raised serious concerns regarding police responsiveness and accountability, igniting discussions about the role of officers during critical emergencies in Ukraine.
