Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky received a comprehensive report from Minister of Internal Affairs Ihor Klymenko regarding the investigation into the horrific terrorist attack in Kyiv and the shocking inaction of patrol police officers at the scene. In his evening video address on Sunday, published on the official resources of the Office of the President of Ukraine, the Head of State harshly condemned the behavior of the law enforcement officers who abandoned civilians under fire. The investigation has been immediately joined by the Security Service of Ukraine and the National Police, tasked with ensuring a systematic and rigorous probe into all aspects of the tragedy.
According to Zelensky, a joint and thorough investigation is currently underway. Investigators are meticulously verifying all facts concerning the attacker. They are examining his psychological state, the motives behind the mass shooting, and the origins of the firearms he used to kill and injure civilians in the Holosiivskyi district. The President emphasized that every detail must be scrutinized, as public safety remains a paramount priority in times of war.
The tragedy has left a devastating impact on the community. Zelensky provided an update on the condition of the victims, noting that eight people remain hospitalized following the horrific event. One individual is currently in the intensive care unit in extremely critical condition. ‘All necessary medical assistance is being provided. Our doctors are doing everything possible to save lives,’ the President assured the nation, expressing his deepest condolences to the families affected by this brutal act of terror.
A significant portion of the President’s address was dedicated to the unprecedented and cowardly behavior of the patrol officers who were first to arrive at the scene. Video footage circulating online showed two officers fleeing after hearing the first shots, leaving wounded civilians, including a child, without aid. ‘We must immediately review the response protocols for such emergency situations, as well as the selection and training processes for patrol police officers,’ Zelensky stated, highlighting the urgent need for a radical overhaul of the system to prevent such tragic failures in the future.
The public outrage over the officers’ flight from the scene has already led to major personnel consequences. The Head of the Patrol Police Department, General Yevhen Zhukov—a combat officer and renowned defender of the Donetsk Airport—took moral responsibility for the unprofessionalism of his subordinates and officially resigned from his post. Internal Affairs Minister Ihor Klymenko publicly branded the patrol officers’ behavior as ‘shameful’ and announced that strict personnel decisions will be made across the entire vertical of the ministry to restore public trust.
An internal investigation into the officers’ actions has been launched under Klymenko’s direct orders. Head of the National Police Ivan Vyhivskyi is tasked with ensuring a transparent probe, and all gathered materials will be handed over to the State Bureau of Investigation (SBI). Criminal proceedings for official negligence have also been opened. The Ukrainian government is sending a clear message: those who fail to uphold their oath to protect the people will face the full extent of the law. This tragedy marks a critical turning point for law enforcement reforms in Ukraine.