Curfew breach in Ukraine turns fatal: Officers shot in weapon smuggling bust

20-year-old Maksym Zaretski was fatally shot by active members of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the Vinnytsia region. Another officer, Maksym Szarpanski, sustained injuries during the incident. The confrontation erupted when their military vehicle was stopped for inspection, as it was moving during curfew hours, revealing an attempt by the military personnel to smuggle weapons.

The suspects' apprehension occurred on a Sunday late afternoon in the Odesa region.

Ivan Vyshyvskyi, the Chief of the National Police of Ukraine, revealed that the culprits are a father-and-son duo, active members of the 28th separate mechanized brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine stationed in the Odesa region.

"The suspects found refuge in the Odesa region and were captured by the special unit KORD (Corps for Operational Rapid Action) members. The perpetrators, military personnel, are a father and son, aged 52 and 26, hailing from the Vinnytsia region," Vyshyvskyi explained.

During routine patrols during curfew hours, National Police officers stopped a vehicle containing two men for inspection.

A police officer's personal camera captured the entire event. The 5-minute video begins with a seemingly innocuous exchange between the officers and the military personnel, full of jokes and laughter. However, the atmosphere rapidly changes after the officer requests the opening of the car's trunk, leading to a violent altercation where the military personnel assault the officer, shooting him multiple times.

The officer was found lying in a pool of his blood, while his colleague, also a victim of the assault, was hospitalized with gunshot wounds; he is reported to be in stable condition.

Olena Berezhna, spokesperson for the National Police, reported that the attackers were "concealed in an abandoned structure, planning their escape from the country." She suggested that the motive behind their assault was likely the discovery of a significant amount of grenades in the vehicle's trunk by the inspecting officer.

As the search for the assailants began, video footage from gas station surveillance, showing the suspects in green-olive military garments and their similarly painted vehicle, was disseminated online. A source within the police confirmed the authenticity of these recordings to BBC. The incident has greatly unsettled the Ukrainian community.

The Minister of Internal Affairs has spoken out, emphasizing that there is absolutely no excuse for such criminal actions, regardless of the perpetrator's identity, attire, circumstances, or motivations. "There can be, and there must be, no justification for this crime," declared Ihor Klymenko.

The General Prosecutor's Office has announced that an investigation is underway against the two soldiers, who now face potential life imprisonment.