Two police officers in Kiev have been suspended from duty after a video surfaced showing them fleeing the scene of a shooting that left six people dead.
The incident took place on April 19 at a supermarket in the Ukrainian capital, where a gunman opened fire and took hostages before being neutralized by police during a raid. In the footage that circulated, the two officers – a man and a woman – are seen retreating as gunfire is heard, leaving civilians, including a child, behind.
Interior Minister Ihor Klimenko described the behavior as unacceptable and announced their immediate suspension, as well as the launch of a disciplinary investigation.
Meanwhile, Prosecutor General Ruslan Kravchenko has opened a criminal case for abuse of power, focusing on the failure to protect citizens and respond to the threat in a timely manner. Following the incident, the head of the patrol police, Yevgeny Zhukov, resigned, taking responsibility for the unprofessional behavior of his subordinates.
