The head of Ukraine's patrol police, Yevhen Zhukov, has resigned after two 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 and that an investigation into their actions was under way. '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, he wrote on Telegram.
However, Klymenko cautioned: It is not entirely correct to make generalisations about the entire police only by the actions of two employees. Zhukov told a news conference on Sunday that the officers had failed to assess the situation properly and left civilians in danger, adding that they acted unprofessionally and unworthily.
As a combat officer, I have decided to submit my resignation from the position I currently hold, Zhukov said.
The Ukrainian authorities say they are treating Saturday's shooting as a terrorist act but have not yet addressed a motive. Klymenko described the shooter's mental state as clearly unstable. Eight people remain in hospital, including one in an extremely serious condition and three others in serious condition.
Zelensky, the Ukrainian President, stated that officers did not stop the murderer, and fled on their own and opened a criminal investigation into their actions while emphasizing the extra pain of losing civilians during times of war.
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 and that an investigation into their actions was under way. '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, he wrote on Telegram.
However, Klymenko cautioned: It is not entirely correct to make generalisations about the entire police only by the actions of two employees. Zhukov told a news conference on Sunday that the officers had failed to assess the situation properly and left civilians in danger, adding that they acted unprofessionally and unworthily.
As a combat officer, I have decided to submit my resignation from the position I currently hold, Zhukov said.
The Ukrainian authorities say they are treating Saturday's shooting as a terrorist act but have not yet addressed a motive. Klymenko described the shooter's mental state as clearly unstable. Eight people remain in hospital, including one in an extremely serious condition and three others in serious condition.
Zelensky, the Ukrainian President, stated that officers did not stop the murderer, and fled on their own and opened a criminal investigation into their actions while emphasizing the extra pain of losing civilians during times of war.
