Police Officer Killed During Traffic Stop in Khmelnytskyi Region

Attack on Law Enforcement in Terlivka

According to Главком: On May 15, 2026, in the village of Terlivka, Khmelnytskyi region, law enforcement officers were attacked while attempting to detain a driver who had been legally stripped of his driving privileges by a court order. The incident occurred around 2:35 PM when the pursued driver stopped in the village and fled onto the grounds of his own household. At that moment, a burst of automatic gunfire was heard, resulting in the death of Police Captain Serhiy Chornyi, an inspector from the patrol police response unit of Police Department No. 3 under the Khmelnytskyi District Police Administration. Another officer, Senior Lieutenant Vladyslav Sandetskyi, was wounded but managed to return fire with his service weapon and is currently hospitalized.

Following the attack, the perpetrator fled the scene. Investigators recovered an empty magazine for an automatic weapon and 5.45 caliber shell casings at the crime scene. In response, a special police operation was launched across the Khmelnytskyi district. Investigative teams, forensic experts, and regional police leadership arrived at the location to conduct the inquiry.

Response from the National Police of Ukraine

The National Police of Ukraine confirmed the death of Police Captain Serhiy Chornyi while on duty. In an official statement, the police expressed condolences to the officer's family and urged the public to assist in locating the suspect. Details of the incident were reported by the publication Glavkom, which also released footage of the shooting of the officers in Khmelnytskyi region.

"Footage has emerged of the shooting of police officers in Khmelnytskyi region. During an attempt to detain an offender, one officer was killed and another injured. The perpetrator managed to escape." - GLAVKOM

This event highlights ongoing security challenges in Ukraine, particularly regarding traffic enforcement and violence against police personnel. The loss of a police officer deals a serious blow to the law enforcement system and raises public concerns about officer safety. The implementation of a specialized police operation underscores the gravity of the situation and the authorities' determination to quickly locate and apprehend the attacker.

The recent attack on law enforcement in Terlivka highlights a troubling trend of violence against police officers in the Khmelnytskyi region. In a similar incident, a driver opened fire during a traffic stop, raising concerns about the safety of police personnel during routine operations. For more details on this alarming pattern of aggression, you can read about the previous shooting incident here.