Parliamentary Committee Rejects Motion to Dismiss Interior Minister Klimenko After Kyiv Terror Attack

Motion Dismissed by Committee

According to Главком: Ukraine's Verkhovna Rada Committee on Law Enforcement Activities has thrown out a draft resolution calling for the removal of Ihor Klimenko as head of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. The proposal, submitted on April 21, followed a terrorist attack in Kyiv three days earlier on April 18. Only the resolution's author, Yuliia Yatsyk, voted in favor, while 16 lawmakers opposed it and one abstained.

The Kyiv Attack

The terrorist incident that sparked the dismissal bid occurred in Kyiv's Holosiivskyi district, where a 58-year-old native of Moscow opened fire on civilians. The assailant barricaded himself inside a supermarket and took hostages. Simultaneously, a fire broke out in the apartment where the shooter was registered. During a storming operation by the KORD special unit, the gunman was neutralized.

Ihor Klimenko assumed his role as head of the Ministry of Internal Affairs on February 7, 2023. His career within the ministry's system began back in 1998. From 2011, he served as deputy and then head of the personnel inspection department within the MVS's Human Resources Directorate. In 2015, he took charge of a similar department in the newly established National Police. He also held the position of deputy head of the National Police under Serhii Kniaziev, eventually rising to become the National Police chief in 2019.

The committee's rejection of the resolution to dismiss Ihor Klimenko signals ongoing support for his leadership amid heightened public tension following the attack. This event has sparked debate over national security, the effectiveness of law enforcement agencies, and the need for further systemic reforms. The committee's stance may reflect confidence in the MVS leadership, despite criticism linked to the Kyiv incident.

In light of the recent attack, the Interior Minister has initiated an inquiry into the police's response during the incident, aiming to address public concerns regarding law enforcement effectiveness. This investigation underscores the ongoing scrutiny faced by the Ministry of Internal Affairs following the events in Kyiv. For more details on the inquiry and its implications, see the full report regarding the police's actions during the terror attack.