Kyiv Mourns 12-Year-Old Hryhorii Hlushych, Killed in Car Crash

Farewell to Hryhorii Hlushych

According to Главком: On June 10, Kyiv will hold a farewell ceremony for 12-year-old Hryhorii Hlushych, who died on June 5 in a traffic accident. The collision occurred around 5:30 PM at the intersection of Vadym Hetman and Ushynsky Streets in the Solomianskyi district of the capital. Four people lost their lives in the crash, including two police officers. The driver, 49-year-old Pavlo Pleshivtsev, was injured and hospitalized. At the time of the accident, he was sober.

Hryhorii Hlushych, a victim of this tragedy, left behind countless dreams, unfinished books, and love-as recalled with sorrow by his close acquaintance, Oleksandra Terletska:

“Life has split into before and after Hrishynka. It hurts, it’s sad, and it’s empty without you, my dear... Your dreams, your unfinished books, and your love are now forever with us, and you are forever 12.”

Funeral Ceremony

The farewell for Hryhorii will take place as part of a ceremony from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM in the courtyard of the Sofia School, located at 3 Voskresenskyi Avenue. Following this, a funeral service will be held from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM at St. Michael's Golden-Domed Monastery. Family and loved ones request that only fresh flowers be brought, preferably in white.

The crash that claimed Hryhorii and others involved a Mercedes-Benz C300, which had 39 recorded traffic violations. The driver, Pavlo Pleshivtsev, was not only involved in the accident but also served as the head of a community of Evangelical Christian Baptists from the Church of the village of Pidstepne. He had prior administrative offenses, including:

• being held accountable for speeding five times during 2025;
• and being involved in a non-injury accident in March 2026.

According to reports, the prosecutor's office is investigating the case under Article 286, Part 3 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, which covers violations of traffic safety rules resulting in multiple deaths. The penalty for this offense can include up to 10 years in prison.

This tragedy has sparked widespread public outcry, highlighting the critical need for road safety and driver accountability. The death of a young boy and other victims serves as a stark reminder of the dangers on the roads and the necessity for stricter oversight of drivers with multiple violations. The ongoing investigation may lead to changes in traffic safety legislation and raise public awareness about this pressing issue.

The tragic accident that claimed the life of young Hryhorii Hlushych is a stark reminder of the urgent need for reform in traffic safety regulations. Similar incidents have prompted calls for legislative change, as seen in the case of a Ukrainian soldier advocating for legal reforms after losing his son in a fatal crash. For more on this pressing issue, see how families are demanding accountability and change in the wake of such tragedies in our detailed report regarding recent traffic accidents.