In the conditions of war, the work of law enforcement agencies acquires special importance. They become not only defenders of law and order, but also important participants in the national security system. The public is closely watching how the police adapt to new challenges, effectively carry out their duties and ensure stability in wartime. Head of the National Police of Ukraine Ivan Vyhivskyi told about achievements and problems currently faced by law enforcement officers, as well as about their contribution to maintaining law and order and the safety of citizens.
Achievements of 2024
Ivan Vyhivskyi emphasized that the main achievement of the National Police is ensuring security in regions far from the front. Despite rocket attacks and the threat of drone strikes, the crime rate has remained under control. Thanks to the coordinated work of 20,000 policemen who patrol the streets every day, it was possible to reduce the number of robberies and robberies. 95% of the 306 robbery cases were solved, and 98% of the robberies. The police work both in the visible plane, through patrols, and invisibly for citizens, using operational methods.
“Regarding the activities of the National Police, we do not have a tendency to increase street crime, violations of public order. We see a constant trend towards a significant decrease in the number of robberies, robberies, and hooliganism. For example, last year 306 robberies were committed, which is much less in Compared to previous years, we solved 95% of robberies and 98% of robberies policemen, those who work in patrols and those who we don’t notice on the street, who work as operatives and solve crimes every day on “hot leads”. These are about 20 thousand policemen who come into service every day precisely to protect public safety and order on the streets of cities.Thanks to this, the overall registration of crimes also decreased.
Of the 1,050 murders committed in 2024, only 9 remained unsolved and there is a prospect for them. The contract killings that took place last year have all been solved. This is the work of every police officer – investigators, operatives, analysts and those who work on the street. It gives its result.
We are also working on the issue of control of all UAV flights, legislative regulation of this issue. These processes are currently underway in the National Police. We understand that there are many individuals who know how to use drones and that these drones can become tools for committing crimes, including murder. For the National Police, this may become a challenge in the future, and that is why we are preparing for it.” – noted Ivan Vyhivskyi.
He also spoke about the impact of the recent cyber attack on government registries, which made the work of the National Police much more difficult. The police use two main services of the Ministry of Justice: to obtain information about temporary restrictions on debtors’ right to drive vehicles and to search for vehicles. Due to the attack, access to these registers was limited, which affected the efficiency of updating information about debtors and vehicles. At the same time, Vyhivskyi emphasized that this did not affect the ability of the police to provide services to citizens, although delays in receiving data create certain difficulties. The head of the National Police expressed hope for a quick solution to this problem.
Confidence in the police and non-police functions
The head of the National Police stressed that citizens’ trust in the police has increased significantly thanks to their work in wartime conditions. Police officers demonstrate not only professionalism, but also the ability to help people in the most difficult circumstances.
“Our main criterion is the trust of the population. During the full-scale invasion, trust in the police increased, thanks to the fact that we perform not only our police functions, but also help people. We are engaged in evacuation from dangerous places, from front-line territories, deliver humanitarian aid to citizens, disassemble collapses, etc. Some 40% of police officers today perform not only basic, but also non-police functions, which was not the case in us before the war.
Unfortunately, the staff of the National Police is the same, it has not changed. Not 400 thousand, as some said in the context of police mobilization. In fact, we have about 100,000 certified police officers, and 67,000 of them are men of mobilization age (25 to 60 years old). Today, about 10,000 police officers are deployed on the front line. These are the “Lyut” assault brigade, the Rifle KORD, the combined “Predator” detachment, as well as the rifle battalions of the main police departments in the regions. Unfortunately, every day we have losses, both sanitary and irreversible. That is why today we fight, and ensure public order, and evacuate people, and provide assistance and are ready for challenges if there are power outages. That is, we have reconfigured ourselves as much as possible and are doing everything that depends on us.” – said Vyhovsky.
He also talked about whether the police help to find and return SZH:
“This is also one of our inherent functions, because in fact the military law enforcement service and the State Bureau of Investigation should be engaged in the search for soldiers who voluntarily left their units. However, taking into account the fact that they do not have enough personnel and the problem with the SZH is urgent, we are actively involved in the process of searching for such persons. We have interaction with the SBP and the SBI. At first it was under the jurisdiction of the SBI determined an alternative investigation for the police, so our investigators investigate such criminal proceedings. Every day we search for and return several hundred such soldiers.”
Reform of the fight against drug crime
According to Vyhivskyi, in 2023, the Department for Combating Narcotic Crime was reformed. The police have completely changed their approach to work, creating a system that covers all levels of criminal activity — from pawnbrokers to organizers of the drug trade.
“In 2024, more than 20,000 people were reported to be suspected of illegal drug trafficking. Indictments were sent to the court in almost 39,000 proceedings, 143 organized groups and criminal organizations that committed more than 2,000 such crimes, and their composition consisted of 3 to 40 participants We set up the work of the Department in a different way “pawners” of drugs, we have now created a kind of pyramid and are moving all the way to the top, from “pawners” to producers and organizers of the drug trade.
In 2024, 74 drug laboratories and 968 drug dens were liquidated. I would like to point out that drug dens served as centers not only for the use of narcotic substances, but also for their illegal production and further distribution. We analyzed what the most common synthetic drug is made of, and how the components for its production are imported into Ukraine. This is common chemistry for detergents, fertilizers, even mosquito spray and so on and we control where it all goes. Thus, when we began mass liquidation of these laboratories, confiscation of equipment, there was a shortage of drugs among drug dealers. After that, drug manufacturers began to complain in their private Telegram channels that because of the actions of the police, there are no drugs, laboratories are closed and their prices have increased. We also had joint implementations with foreign colleagues, because some drug dealers went to neighboring countries and opened their laboratories there, believing that it is safer for them.
For this year (2024 – ed.), we seized almost 5.5 tons of drugs, which is more than 20 million doses, and more than 24 tons of precursors. The estimated value of seized drugs at black market prices is more than 2.6 billion hryvnias. More than 6 tons of drugs could be produced from 24 tons of precursors. Such amounts of drugs have not yet been seized in our country in a year. Here the principle is as follows – the more we expose drug syndicates, the more we minimize the circulation of drugs in the country. We pay particular attention to neutralizing the economic basis of drug crime, depriving criminals of the resources to continue their illegal activities. Thus, the property of drug dealers was seized and their property worth more than UAH 160 million was seized.” – said Vyhivskyi.
The problem of illegal weapons
Ivan Vyhivsky focused on the problem of illegal weapons, which can become a serious threat after the war.
“This year alone (2024 – ed.) we registered more than 5,000 criminal proceedings for illegal trafficking in firearms and ammunition. We seized more than 4,700 firearms, more than 16,000 grenades, 747 grenade launchers, more than 3 tons of explosives and almost 2 million bullets. It was possible to realize all this thanks to the many roadblocks cause a negative attitude, as well as to the system work and operational units that carry out purchases.
I would like to remind you once again that the Law on the Declaration of Weapons is in force in Ukraine and we explain the declaration procedure to citizens, but so far they are cautious about it. However, they are gradually handing over such found weapons to us. You can contact us to register your weapon and not worry about prosecution. As of yesterday, we have already declared 2,780 units of such weapons. We are returning these weapons to the people while the war is over, but after the end of the war, there will be 90 days to turn them in, or clean them up, or convert them, for example, from a Kalashnikov to a carbine that will shoot single shots and become the rightful owner. If such a weapon is not declared now, then the person will be prosecuted for illegal possession.” – remarked Vyhovsky.
Personnel issues
Ivan Vyhivskyi said that there are now about 18% of vacant positions in the National Police. People continue to join the police force, although not in the same numbers as in peacetime. The selection of new employees is carried out from the age of 18, and the priority remains the replenishment of units that perform tasks at the front, such as the assault brigade “Rage” or rifle battalions. At the same time, the police does not involve a mobilization resource.
Regarding wages, Vyhivskyi notes that the last time it was increased was in January 2023, and since then the income level has not changed. He explains that salaries in the police do not depend on the living wage, as in many other structures, but are regulated by the Cabinet of Ministers. Although the budget has now been passed, it is hoped that the issue of wage indexation may be raised during the mid-year budget review. However, even under the current conditions, the police is trying to motivate employees, finding opportunities for bonuses, especially for conscientious and proactive police officers.
Other questions
Regarding the possible reduction of the mobilization age to 18-20 years, Vyhivskyi notes that this is not the competence of the National Police, but suggests that, if necessary, the state can make similar decisions. He reminded that earlier the age of reduction of mobilization was already reduced from 27 to 25 years.
He also talked about the language patrols that operate in Ivano-Frankivsk on the initiative of the local mayor. According to Vyhivskyi, the police do not directly participate in these patrols, but interact with the Language Ombudsman when questions or violations of the law arise.
Regarding the activities of the OnlyFans platform and the possibility of decriminalizing pornography, Vyhivskyi notes that the police do not support such an initiative. He believes that the legalization of pornography can have a negative impact on moral values, especially on children, and also create additional risks in conditions of war, when the enemy uses various mechanisms of destabilization.
In addition, he emphasized the importance of combating fraud, in particular with so-called drops that contribute to money laundering. The police have prepared a draft law to bring such persons to justice and are actively working with banks to create a registry of drops.
