The Pechersk District Court of Kyiv has made a landmark ruling regarding two patrol police officers accused of criminal negligence with severe consequences during the recent terrorist attack in the capital’s Holosiivskyi district. As reported by Suspilne, the court approved the prosecution’s request, remanding Mykhailo Drobnytskyi and Anna Dudina in custody for 60 days with an alternative bail set at 266,000 UAH.
This judicial decision follows the tragic events of April 18, 2026, when a mass shooting shook Kyiv. Dmytro Vasylchenkov, a former military serviceman, opened fire on random pedestrians on Demiivska Street before barricading himself inside a local supermarket with hostages. The devastating assault resulted in seven fatalities and left 14 others wounded. The perpetrator was ultimately neutralized by special forces during a tactical breach.
However, the public outrage was significantly amplified by the actions of the first responders. Shocking footage from witnesses and police body cameras revealed that upon hearing the gunfire, the two patrol officers retreated to seek cover, allegedly abandoning civilians in critical danger, including a wounded child.
During the court hearing, prosecutors argued that the officers failed to provide necessary medical assistance and took no action to stop the active shooter. They emphasized that a strict preventive measure was required because the suspects could potentially destroy vital evidence, such as body camera recordings, or inappropriately influence witnesses.
The defense, meanwhile, advocated for night-time house arrest. Both officers pleaded not guilty. Drobnytskyi claimed he was tactically repositioning to avoid the terrorist’s line of fire, while Dudina stated she was heading back to the patrol vehicle to retrieve a medical kit. She also noted that she could not draw her weapon as the shooter was out of her direct line of sight.
The fallout from the incident has triggered sweeping systemic changes within Ukraine’s Ministry of Internal Affairs. Amid mounting public pressure, the Head of the Patrol Police Department, Yevheniy Zhukov, resigned from his post, transitioning to an advisory role. Oleksandr Fatsevych has stepped in as the acting chief.
Minister of Internal Affairs Ihor Klymenko publicly condemned the officers’ actions as a disgrace and announced radical reforms to tactical training. According to the Minister, patrol officers will now undergo intensive rotational training at military proving grounds. Combat veterans from the National Guard and the State Border Guard Service will serve as their primary instructors. Klymenko stressed that in a country at war, every patrol unit must be prepared for extreme scenarios, noting that routine calls could easily escalate into armed confrontations.
This unprecedented move highlights a critical pivot in Ukraine’s law enforcement strategy, aiming to ensure that frontline responders possess both the psychological resilience and combat readiness necessary to protect citizens in highly volatile environments.