Police General resigned after Kyiv Shooting

Police General Yevheniy Zhukov has resigned as head of the Patrol Police Department of Ukraine’s National Police following a scandal involving officers’ conduct during a fatal shooting in Kyiv.

Zhukov announced his decision at a press conference addressing the incident, saying: “As a combat officer, I have decided to submit my resignation. I believe this is the fair course of action.”

He also criticised the actions of patrol officers who responded to the scene, describing their behaviour as “unprofessional and unworthy”.

Kyiv shooting

The incident took place on the evening of Saturday 18 April in Kyiv’s Holosiivskyi district. A man armed with a carbine opened fire on the street, killing six people. The attacker was killed in the supermarket following a shoot-out with police.

Authorities identified the gunman as 58-year-old Dmitry Vasylchenkov, originally from Moscow. On Sunday morning, footage circulated online appearing to show two patrol officers who had arrived at the scene running away after hearing gunfire.

In response, Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko ordered an internal investigation into the officers’ actions, while Prosecutor General Ruslan Kravchenko announced the opening of a criminal case.

Background

Zhukov, a third-rank police general, is a former reconnaissance company commander in Ukraine’s 79th Air Assault Brigade. He is also known as one of the “cyborgs” who defended Donetsk airport during intense fighting in 2014.

During rotations in October and November of that year, units under his command helped hold the airport despite sustained artillery and tank attacks.

In 2015, Zhukov was appointed deputy head of the Patrol Service Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Later that year, he became head of the Patrol Police Department.

He also features in the documentary Three Days at Donetsk Airport by Babylon 13.