After patrol officers fled under gunfire: Zhukov filed a report, and Kim urges not to dismiss them

After the high-profile shooting in Kyiv on April 18, 2026, the head of the Department of the Patrol Police of Ukraine Yevhen Zhukov announced that he is submitting his resignation. He made this decision following the loud scandal over the actions of two patrol officers who arrived at the scene of the terror attack but, as the leadership itself admits, behaved unprofessionally and left civilians in danger.

It is known that after the events in the Holosiivskyi district of Kyiv, these policemen were suspended, and an internal investigation into their actions was launched. Yevhen Zhukov himself called the subordinates’ behavior shameful and decided to take the hit upon himself as the head of the entire Patrol Police system.

Yevhen Zhukov announced his decision during a briefing in Kyiv, commenting on the consequences of the terror attack and the Patrol Police’s response at the scene.

“As an officer, I decided to submit my resignation report… I think this is the fair thing to do,” said Yevhen Zhukov.

Amid criticism of Zhukov, the head of the Mykolaiv Regional Military Administration Vitaliy Kim publicly defended him. He emphasized that the reform of the Patrol Police remains one of the most successful, and that the department head acted like a combat officer who does not hide behind subordinates but takes responsibility upon himself. In Kim‘s opinion, for that reason the resignation should not be accepted.

Vitaliy Kim published his position regarding Yevhen Zhukov‘s resignation report in Telegram after a press conference in Kyiv.

“I believe we should support NOT dismissing General Zhukov,” said the head of the Mykolaiv Regional Military Administration.

The story has already gone far beyond a single personnel decision. After the terror attack in Kyiv, the Ministry of Internal Affairs simultaneously launched an internal probe into the actions of the patrol officers and opened a broader discussion about security, the effectiveness of the system, and even the right of civilians to armed self-defense. So now the question is not only whether Zhukov will remain in his position, but also what conclusions the state will draw from this tragedy.

Yevhen Oleksandrovych Zhukov — a Ukrainian military and statesman, head of the Patrol Police of Ukraine; formerly a combat officer of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, a paratrooper of the 79th Separate Airmobile Brigade, a participant in the war in eastern Ukraine, and a “cyborg” of Donetsk Airport.