Ukrainian officials propose changes to police training after terrorist attack in Kyiv

He remarked that it is necessary to strengthen and modernize patrol officer training.

“Whatever you may call it, this shameful situation must never happen again. Patrol officers will now take turns living on firing ranges,” Klymenko stated.

“We will recruit service members who served in combat with the 1st and 2nd Army Corps of the National Guard, as well as members of the State Border Guard, as instructors.”

The Minister clarified that this applies to all units, starting with patrol police, and with plans to include all district police departments in the future.

“We will also encourage qualified demobilized veterans to continue their service as combat training instructors,” the Interior Minister noted.

“We’re talking about training and psychological resilience. Psychological resilience under extreme conditions can’t be determined by a test, but by an individual’s experience at a firing range alongside an instructor.”

Additionally, Ihor Klymenko reported that, on the order of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, response protocols and training programs must be revised.

On April 18, 58-year-old Dmytro Vasylchenko, who lived in the Ukrainian capital, opened fire on people in the street in Kyiv’s Holosiivskiy district. He then proceeded to take a hostage in a Walmart supermarket. At the same time, a fire broke out in the shooter’s apartment.

The perpetrator was neutralized by officers from the Rapid Operational Response Unit. It was reported that, in addition to the shooter, six people were killed, with 14 people wounded, among whom was an 11-year-old boy and his mother. The boy’s father was killed in the shooting. The death toll rose to 7 when one of the wounded died in hospital, on April 20.

On April 19, footage of the terrorist attack in Kyiv surfaced online, showing two police officers running in different directions after hearing gunfire, leaving civilians – including a child — behind.

Patrol Police Chief Yevhen Zhukov announced his resignation that same day.

Prosecutor General Ruslan Kravchenko announced that the two police officers who fled during the shooting in Kyiv have been formally notified of suspicion over their actions.