Traffic accident involving a police officer in Mykolaiv Oblast: officer suspended pending investigation

October 18, 2026, a traffic accident occurred in the city of Novyi Buh, Mykolaiv Oblast: a Škoda Octavia crashed into the wall of a summer kitchen on the grounds of a private property and partially destroyed the building. Local residents told the outlet Novosti-N.

According to eyewitnesses, late in the evening the car was traveling along Malynovskoho Street but, for reasons unknown, veered onto private property. The car crashed into the building’s wall and partially entered the summer kitchen. By the time police officers arrived at the scene, the driver was no longer in the car.

Later, information appeared on social media claiming that Vitalii Yakovenko was allegedly driving the Škoda Octavia. He is the deputy head of the criminal police sector at Police Station No. 1 of the Bashtanka District Police Department of the Main Directorate of the National Police in Mykolaiv Oblast, based in Novyi Buh.

The press service of the Main Directorate of the National Police in Mykolaiv Oblast told Novosti-N that an internal investigation into the officer was launched after this information came to light. While the investigation is underway, Vitalii Yakovenko has been suspended from his duties.

Law enforcement officers are currently establishing all the circumstances of the traffic accident. The information about who was driving the car at the time of the crash requires official confirmation.

We have also reported:

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