The newly-appointed National Police head Serhiy Knyazev called the shootout in Kniazhychi “a tragedy and catastrophe”. He said this on air of 24 channel.
“Everything the police has done – is done. People are killed, widows are at home. All that has been violated, the entire situation that led to such a sad ending has already happened de-facto. It’s over, the end. All is left is for the Prosecutor General’s Office to put everything in order,” Knyazev said.
The National Police head also reminded that police has also conducted internal investigation on Kniazhychi shootout and the results were handed over to the Prosecutor General’s Office.
Answering what he thinks about the incident in Kniazhychi, Knyazev said:
“This is a tragedy and a catastrophe…And it’s also unprofessional”.
Earlier it was reported about the notorious shootout in Kniazhychi: versions and details. The official version of the incident leaves more questions than answers.
According to the release of the National Police, members of Kyiv Criminal Investigation Department with the support of special forces soldiers of National Police KORD planned special operation to detain a dangerous gang of burglars who committed a series of robberies in Kyiv and region.
The next robbery was going to happen in the village Kniazhychi, Kyiv region. A group of law enforcement officers also came there. All this happened at night, after 4 hours of the morning. In one of the neighboring houses tripped burglar alarm and police arrived at the scene a group of guards. Employees of the group, said another police took them for robbers and tried to arrest. At the same time, investigators took police protection for the hitters and come to the aid of their colleagues. As a result, there was a skirmish between them, during which five people were killed: two police guards, two investigators and one commando from KORD, who was part of the group.