Arabic version: استقالة رئيس شرطة أوكرانيا بعد حادث إطلاق نار مميت

Yevhen Zhukov, the head of Ukraine’s patrol police, has resigned after two officers faced criticism for allegedly fleeing a deadly mass shooting in Kyiv. The incident, which occurred in the Holosiivskyi district, resulted in six fatalities and 14 injuries when a gunman opened fire on civilians before taking hostages in a nearby supermarket. The shooter was subsequently killed in a shoot-out with police.

According to BBC News, footage circulating online reportedly shows the officers leaving civilians and running away from the scene. Ukraine’s Interior Minister Igor Klymenko announced that the officers have been suspended pending an investigation into their actions, emphasizing the importance of police accountability, especially in critical situations.

Zhukov criticized the officers for their lack of professionalism, stating they failed to properly assess the situation and left civilians in danger. He expressed his decision to resign as a combat officer, acknowledging the gravity of their inaction. President Volodymyr Zelensky also condemned the officers, noting their failure to intervene during the attack, and confirmed that a criminal case is being pursued by the national investigations bureau.

The shooter, identified as a 58-year-old man originally from Moscow, had been living in the Holosiivskyi district and reportedly had a registered firearm. Authorities are now investigating the processes surrounding his gun license renewal. Despite the ongoing conflict with Russia, such shootings are uncommon in the city. Klymenko stated that there would not be a mass check of gun owners, advocating for citizens’ rights to self-defense in the current climate of war.