They fled instead of rescuing: police officers in Kyiv charged after a bloody terrorist attack

Attorney General Ruslan Kravchenko 20 April 2026 released an edited video from the body cameras of patrol officers who were working at the scene of the shooting in Kyiv. Surveillance camera footage was also added to the recording.

According to the investigation, a patrol police crew arrived at a call about a shooting and saw the wounded — a child, a man and a woman who required immediate assistance. Other people were nearby, including another child.

During the incident the wounded boy appealed to law enforcement asking them to help his father:

“Don’t save me, help my dad”, – the wounded boy told the police, after which they fled from the terrorist in Kyiv, leaving people in danger.

The officers were carrying service firearms and had lawful grounds to use them; however, according to the investigation, they actually fled, not taking measures to stop the attacker.

As a result the shooter was able to continue moving along the street and fire at civilians. Between 16:35 and 18:00 on 18 April 2026 six people were killed in the attack, and another man later died in hospital — he became the seventh victim.

Two patrol police officers have been notified of suspicion under part 3 of Article 367 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine — official negligence that caused grave consequences. The pre-trial investigation is ongoing.

“Sufficient evidence has been collected to notify two officers of the Patrol Police Department in the city of Kyiv of suspicion due to their actions during the terrorist act. They are charged with official negligence that caused grave consequences under part 3 of Article 367 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. The pre-trial investigation continues”, – Kravchenko notes.

The State Bureau of Investigation (DBR) is asking to detain the two patrol officers who fled the scene of the terrorist attack in Kyiv:

“At the time of arrival officers saw an injured child and two adults with gunshot wounds, whom passersby were trying to help. The police were aware of an armed attacker and the real threat to people’s lives. The law allowed them to use their service weapons without warning to stop an armed attack”, – the State Bureau of Investigation explained.

Previously we wrote:

• Bloody day in Kyiv: the shooter who opened fire on people and hid in a supermarket has been neutralized
• In Kyiv a drunk driver without a license hit a patrolman — police opened fire
• Kidnapped an acquaintance with a baby and opened fire on police: details of the high-profile crime in Zakarpattia
• The Korabelnyi District Court of Mykolaiv pointed out poor work by local police
• Four years to the sentence for beating a lawyer: how law enforcement officers are punished in Mykolaiv