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Suspect Opens Fire with Assault Rifle on Soldiers and Police Officer in Western Ukraine: Key Details

Зловмисник відкрив вогонь із автоматичної зброї по військовим та правоохоронцям на заході України: основні факти. Photo: Главком

Armed Attack in the Village of Verba

A man unleashed a hail of bullets from an assault rifle targeting military personnel and a police officer in the village of Verba, located in the Dubno district of the Rivne region. The attack, which took place on April 29, 2025, left one soldier and one police officer wounded. Authorities have identified the 48-year-old suspect and launched a manhunt.

The incident unfolded around 5:00 PM. A criminal case has been opened under article of attempted premeditated murder. The suspect is described as lean, approximately 170 cm tall, with short graying hair, and was wearing camouflage clothing at the time of the assault. A special police operation is currently underway to apprehend him.

Additional Incident

Separately, on April 28, in the city of Khmelnytskyi on Instytutska Street, law enforcement detained a man who fired several shots from what appeared to be a pneumatic pistol. The gunfire damaged two vehicles: one civilian car and one official service vehicle. The offender was taken into custody, though further details have not yet been disclosed.

These back-to-back events underscore a troubling rise in violence in Ukraine, particularly directed at law enforcement and military personnel, raising public concern. The active search operations highlight both the severity of the situation and the authorities' readiness to respond. Such incidents may prompt a reassessment of security protocols and inter-agency cooperation to maintain public order.

The unsettling rise in violent incidents targeting law enforcement in Ukraine is further highlighted by a recent event in Khmelnytskyi, where a man discharged a firearm in a public area. This incident, which resulted in damage to vehicles, raises critical questions about safety and security measures in urban environments. For more details on this alarming case, you can read about the arrest and circumstances surrounding the shooting.