Driver Fatal Crash in Kyiv Ordered into Custody by Court

Preventive Measure for Mercedes-Benz Driver

According to Главком: On June 5, a tragic road accident in Kyiv claimed four lives. The Shevchenkivskyi District Court has now ordered the driver of a Mercedes-Benz, Pavlo Pleshyvtsev, to be held in custody until August 3 without the possibility of bail. This decision comes in response to the fatal crash that occurred around 5:30 PM at the intersection of Vadyma Hetmana and Ushynskoho streets in the Solomianskyi district. The vehicle, driven by Pleshyvtsev, plunged into an underground pedestrian crossing.

The victims of the crash include:

• two men,
• one woman,
• a 12-year-old boy named Hryhorii Hlushych,
• two police officers: 24-year-old Senior Lieutenant Dmytro Bondarchuk and 21-year-old Lieutenant Denys Budchenko, who were on duty at the time.

Three other individuals sustained injuries in the accident.

Pavlo Pleshyvtsev, a 49-year-old resident of the Kherson region, serves as the head of an evangelical Christian Baptist community in the village of Pidstepne. He was injured in the crash and subsequently hospitalized. At the time of the incident, the driver was sober. Over the course of 2025, Pleshyvtsev had been cited five times for administrative offenses, including speeding and other traffic violations. The vehicle itself had accumulated 39 traffic infractions, most of which were for speeding.

The prosecutor, who requested a 60-day detention without bail, stated that 'sufficient evidence has been gathered linking him to this offense. There are also risks of him evading law enforcement, as well as unlawfully influencing victims and witnesses.'

Defense attorney Yevhenii Melnychenko commented, 'As a father of five, he finds it unbearable to be involved in something like this. He is not pleased that he survived.'

A pre-trial investigation has been launched under Part 3 of Article 286 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, which carries a penalty of up to 10 years in prison. The driver expressed his feelings, stating, 'I feel very guilty.'

Public Outcry

This traffic accident has sparked significant public outrage, especially because two police officers were among the deceased while performing their duties. The case underscores the severe consequences of driving violations and the critical need for adherence to traffic laws. The imposition of a custodial measure highlights the gravity of the situation and the potential repercussions for a driver with a prior record of infractions. The investigation continues, and its outcome may shape future legal approaches to similar cases.

In light of this tragic incident, it's important to note that another driver has been arrested in Kyiv following a similar fatal crash that resulted in multiple fatalities. Such incidents raise critical questions about road safety and driver accountability in the city.