Police officer kills armed attacker in Zaporizhzhia, suspect identified as AWOL serviceman

In Zaporizhzhia, a police officer used his service firearm to repel an armed attack. As a result of the shooting, a man was killed who was later identified as a serviceman who had gone AWOL after leaving his military unit without authorization.

The regional patrol police reported this on Telegram, according to Ukrinform.

"On March 16, at about 06:30, a patrol police crew received a call reporting the beating of a man in the Khortytskyi district of the city and an attempted robbery. Upon arriving at the scene, officers found the complainant, who pointed to two individuals allegedly involved in the crime," the statement said.

According to the patrol police, while officers were establishing the circumstances of the incident, one of the men began behaving aggressively, ignored lawful demands from the police to stop, and pulled out an object resembling a pistol, which he began reloading.

"The suspect also began closing the distance. The police officer moved to a safe distance behind cover, but the offender followed him while threatening with an object resembling a weapon. In accordance with Article 46 of the Law of Ukraine 'On the National Police,' and to avert a threat to life and health, the officer used his service firearm, firing two shots. After that, one of the offenders fled. The other man attempted to use a gas spray against the patrol officers and physically resisted, so he was detained using handcuffs," the police said.

Later, police found the attacker who had attempted to flee after the shots dead nearby. Officers identified him as a serviceman who had deserted his military unit without authorization. His accomplice is also listed as AWOL.

Investigators from Ukraine's State Bureau of Investigation and a police investigative team are working at the scene. An internal investigation has been launched to determine whether the use of firearms was lawful.

All circumstances of the incident are being established.

Earlier reports said that in Kyiv, police detained a serviceman who had gone AWOL and attacked two people with a knife.