Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has strongly condemned the actions of patrol police officers who fled the scene of a deadly terrorist attack in Kyiv’s Holosiivskyi district, demanding a comprehensive review of law enforcement response protocols. In an evening video address on Monday, April 20, the head of state emphasized the need for strict accountability for those who abandoned civilians in danger, making the statement via his official Telegram channel.
“The patrol crew arrived at the call about the shooting and saw what was happening. They saw the wounded, saw a child, and other ordinary people at the scene. The patrol officers should have done everything to stop the killer, but they fled. There must be responsibility,” President Zelensky stressed during his address.
He expressed his firm expectation that the subsequent procedural steps by the State Bureau of Investigations, which has already launched a criminal probe into the officers’ inaction, would not be delayed. The public outrage reached a boiling point after footage from the officers’ body cameras surfaced online. The video clearly showed armed law enforcement personnel retreating from the area rather than neutralizing the active shooter or assisting the bleeding victims.
In response to the unprecedented failure, the President mandated sweeping reforms within the Ministry of Internal Affairs. “All police response protocols, training rules, and regulations on the use of weapons to protect people must be revised so that this never happens again. There must be safety for everyone,” Zelensky noted, adding that personnel decisions would be made across the entire law enforcement vertical.
The horrifying events unfolded on April 18, when an armed assailant began indiscriminately firing at pedestrians on the streets of the capital. The attacker subsequently stormed the “Velmart” supermarket on Holosiivskyi Avenue, taking shoppers and staff hostage. Following a tense standoff, KORD special forces launched a tactical assault and eliminated the terrorist.
The tragic incident claimed the lives of seven people and left 14 others injured, including a 12-year-old boy. The perpetrator was quickly identified as 58-year-old Dmitry Vasilchenkov. Born in Moscow but holding Ukrainian citizenship, Vasilchenkov had previously resided in Bakhmut before moving to Kyiv. Investigators revealed that the attacker had legally registered firearms, despite a prior criminal record. Authorities also noted that he had set his own apartment on fire shortly before embarking on the shooting spree.
The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) and the National Police are currently conducting a joint investigation into the terrorist act. Detectives are exploring multiple theories regarding Vasilchenkov’s motives, including potential psychological factors and possible connections to hostile intelligence operations amid the ongoing war. The tragedy has reignited a fierce national debate regarding public safety, police competence, and civilian gun ownership rights in a country grappling with the daily realities of war.