The police have completed the investigation of the incident involving the journalist and executive producer of Public Broadcasting, Yury Makarov, who was hospitalized with a stab wound in April of this year. As reported at the National Police, an examination established that he had inflicted the injury on himself — this is confirmed by the results of DNA samples taken from the knife, which contained only his genetic material. Information confirmed in the editorial office of Public Broadcasting.
The law enforcement officers also reviewed all the recordings of video surveillance cameras, interviewed dozens of witnesses and conducted an investigative experiment. According to their data, no one was near Makarov at the time of the injury.
“The police seized the alleged instrument of the crime – a knife and its case, which was found nearby, and sent everything to the expert examination. According to the results of the expert examination, the DNA samples taken from the material evidence belong exclusively to the victim, which indicates that the man inflicted the injuries on himself.” – said the police.
The journalist underwent a forensic psychological and psychiatric examination, which indicated that he was in a state of acute reaction to stress, which could have affected his actions. Makarov accepted these conclusions. After that, the criminal proceedings under ch. 1 Art. 121 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine was closed.
Suspilny thanked the law enforcement officers for the thorough investigation:
“Public Broadcasting is grateful to the National Police of Ukraine for their professionalism and thorough work in establishing all the details in a delicate case regarding our colleague.”
It will be recalled that on April 16, 2025, Makarov was hospitalized in serious condition, claiming that he was wounded by an unknown person. After that, the police opened criminal proceedings for causing grievous bodily harm. People’s deputy and head of the Parliamentary Committee on Freedom of Speech Yaroslav Yurchyshyn appealed to the police to “immediately investigate this crime and its motives.” The investigation was under the personal control of the Minister of Internal Affairs, Ihor Klymenko.
