A crisis of confidence: the terrorist attack in the Holosiivskyi district has caused the police’s approval ratings to plummet
This is reported by ‘Slovo i Dilo’
Safety in figures: shock and disappointment
The tragedy at the supermarket, where seven people were killed by an attacker, has changed perceptions of personal safety in the country. Over half of respondents (53%) confirmed that their sense of security had significantly or moderately deteriorated. Only 25% of those surveyed remained calm, stating that the incident had not affected their outlook on life. However, the biggest blow fell on the image of the Patrol Police. Following the high-profile escape of two officers from the scene of the shooting, over three-quarters of Ukrainians expressed a negative view of the force. 44% of respondents reported a complete loss of trust and expressed direct doubts about the police’s ability to protect them in a critical moment. 33.5% felt partially disappointed, perceiving the incident as an alarming symptom of a systemic crisis. The ‘increase in trust’ indicator following the terrorist attack stood at exactly 0%.
Public verdict: the Ministry of Internal Affairs demands a fresh start
The public’s reaction to the actions of the security forces was as harsh as possible. Ukrainians are no longer satisfied with the dismissal of mid-level officials.
-
48% of respondents are convinced that the entire leadership of the Ministry of Internal Affairs should resign.
-
Only 19% believe that personnel changes within the Patrol Police Department alone would suffice.
The highest level of trust was recorded only among residents of Kyiv and the northern regions (35%), where the highest percentage of those opposed to radical dismissals within the Ministry is also observed.
As a reminder, on 18 April in the Holosiivskyi district of the capital, an armed man opened fire in a supermarket and took hostages. Seven people were killed by the gunman, and the same number were injured. During the special operation, the attacker was neutralised, but a major scandal erupted over two law enforcement officers who, instead of protecting people, fled the scene. Amid the public outcry, the head of the Patrol Police Department, Yevhen Zhukov, resigned. However, the release on bail of police officers Mykhailo Drobnytskyi and Anna Dudina, who are suspected of negligence, only heightened the tension. Similar shooting incidents that have recently occurred in Bucha and Khmelnytskyi are prompting Ukrainians to demand ever more loudly that those responsible for ensuring their safety be held truly accountable.
Follow us on Telegram
