Campaign to Honor Oleksandr Perha Gains Momentum
A petition on the Kyiv City Council website calling for the recognition of Oleksandr Perha—who used his own body to protect a boy during the April 18, 2026 terrorist attack—has garnered 6,000 signatures. Launched by Anastasiia Mahonova, the initiative reached the required threshold in just one week. Perha succumbed to his injuries in the hospital the day after the attack, in which a 58-year-old gunman from Moscow killed six people. The 12-year-old boy lost both his parents and his aunt in the tragedy.
The petition states that 'his act exemplifies courage, humanity, and self-sacrifice. In a moment of mortal danger, he shielded the child, giving his own life.' It further emphasizes that Kyiv must not only endure its tragedies but also properly honor those who save others at the ultimate cost.
Proposed Measures for Commemoration
The proposed steps to honor Oleksandr Perha include:
- erecting a memorial sculpture or plaque at the site of the tragedy;
- awarding him a posthumous city honor;
- holding an official public ceremony at the city level to recognize his deed.
Meanwhile, following a scandal over patrol officers fleeing the scene, Police General Yevhenii Zhukov has resigned as head of the Patrol Police Department. The resignation came after an incident in which officers failed to respond to gunfire. Ukraine's National Police has launched an internal investigation into the officers' actions. Two patrol officers have been suspended pending review, and criminal proceedings have been initiated for dereliction of duty.
The attack occurred in the Holosiivskyi district, where the assailant barricaded himself inside a supermarket and held hostages. The gunman was neutralized during a raid by the KORD special unit. This tragic event once again exposed the devastating impact of violence in the city of Kyiv.
Honoring Oleksandr Perha represents a crucial step in preserving the memory of heroism amid tragedy. The initiative aims not only to commemorate the fallen but also to underscore the importance of humanity and readiness to help others in crisis. At the same time, the police general's resignation and the investigation into the officers' conduct highlight the need for reforms within law enforcement to prevent similar failures in the future. These events serve as a stark reminder of the importance of public safety and the accountability of authorities.
In a similar spirit of honoring bravery, the Kyiv City Council recently took steps to commemorate another fallen hero, Sviatoslav Aleksandpolskyi. This decision underscores the importance of recognizing those who display extraordinary courage in the face of danger. For more details on this significant tribute, you can read about the renaming of a square in his honor.