The Pechersk District Court placed officer Mykhailo Drobytskyi in pretrial detention on suspicion of improper performance of official duties under Part 3 of Article 367 of Ukraine’s Criminal Code.
Prosecutors requested the measure, citing risks that the suspect could tamper with or destroy evidence, including dashcam and body camera footage, and potentially influence witnesses using his position, an NV correspondent reported.
The defense opposed the request, arguing that a rank-and-file officer lacks the means to pressure witnesses and noting that the suspect appeared in court voluntarily and did not attempt to evade authorities.
The defense asked the court to impose house arrest instead.
The suspect denied fleeing the scene during the shooting, saying he sought cover to avoid being hit by gunfire.
The court is expected to consider preventive measures for another police officer involved in the case, an NV correspondent reported.
A 58-year-old man opened fire on civilians in Kyiv’s Holosiivskyi district on April 18 before taking hostages inside a supermarket. He had set his apartment on fire before going outside, authorities said.
Special police units killed the attacker during the assault. Authorities later identified him as Dmytro Vasylchenkov, a Moscow native living in Kyiv who held anti-Ukrainian and antisemitic views, according to media reports.
Kyiv Patrol Police chief Yevhen Zhukov resigned on April 19 after video footage surfaced online showing officers fleeing during the shooting.
Two police officers were formally charged with negligence resulting in serious consequences on April 20 in connection with the incident, Prosecutor General Ruslan Kravchenko said. They face up to five years in prison if convicted.