Ukrainian soldier demands legal reform after his son dies in Kyiv crash that killed four

Deadly collision in Kyiv

According to Главком: On June 5, 2025, a devastating traffic accident in Kyiv’s Karavaevi Dachi neighborhood claimed four lives, including 12-year-old Hryhorii Hlushych. His father, Oleksii Hlushych, a serviceman with the Armed Forces of Ukraine, is now urging lawmakers to close loopholes and end impunity for reckless drivers. The crash occurred at 5:30 PM at the intersection of Vadim Hetman and Ushynsky streets in the Solomianskyi district, when a Mercedes-Benz C300 plowed into a pedestrian underpass.

In addition to young Hryhorii, the victims included two police officers from the Solomianskyi precinct: 24-year-old Senior Lieutenant Dmytro Bondarchuk and 21-year-old Lieutenant Denys Budchenko. Three others were injured. The driver, 49-year-old Pavlo Pleshyvtsev from the Kherson region, has a lengthy record of traffic violations-39 infractions were logged against his vehicle, most for speeding. In 2025 alone, he faced administrative penalties five times for speeding and five more for other offenses.

“We are asking everyone to spread the word. Not for attention, but for change. Journalists, grab your microphones at every event and ask: what’s happening with legal reform? This momentum cannot fade. Lawmakers, get to work. Impunity on the roads must end. Our son is dead, and this cannot be in vain.”

Oleksii Hlushych, father of the deceased boy

The Kyiv City Prosecutor’s Office has launched a pre-trial investigation under Article 286, Part 3 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, which addresses traffic safety violations resulting in multiple fatalities. The charge carries a potential sentence of up to 10 years in prison. Pleshyvtsev was sober at the time of the crash.

Nadiia Chukhrayeva, the Hlushych family’s lawyer, noted that this is the fourth case involving a child’s death in her practice over the past six months. She also called on Ukraine’s Prosecutor General to personally oversee the investigation, stating: ‘Not once have I seen a driver come forward and simply say: I am guilty. I took a human life. Not once. There are always explanations, justifications, circumstances.’

Road safety concerns

The tragedy has also reignited debate over road infrastructure. Olena Fatyeyeva, a safety expert, commented: ‘Whoever designed an underpass that a vehicle can fly into from above on a curved road is just as much a killer as the person behind the wheel.’ She urged a complete rethink of road design approaches in the capital.

This crash highlights urgent safety issues on Ukrainian roads and raises questions about accountability-not only for drivers but also for those who design and maintain infrastructure. Calls for legislative change and improved road safety are growing louder, as the public demands concrete action to prevent such tragedies in the future.

As the tragic incident continues to draw attention, it highlights a concerning trend of reckless driving in the capital. The case of the driver with a staggering number of traffic violations raises questions about road safety and legal accountability. For more details on this alarming collision and its implications, visit this related report.