“They say that the police do not fight. If so, who are we burying here?”: the head of the police of the Kharkiv region on the death of Denys Kotlyar (video)
Recently, there has been a lot of talk about the involvement of police officers in the war. Some believe that they do not fight at the front and should be sent to the ranks of the Armed Forces. However, those who say so do not know or do not want to know that a significant number of law enforcement officers have been defending the country with weapons in their hands for a long time. They perform combat missions, rescue people under fire, evacuate civilians and their fellow soldiers. Many of them gave their lives for Ukraine… On March 3, the country lost another hero – policeman Denys Kotlyar.
On March 5, Kharkiv said goodbye to 30-year-old senior police lieutenant Denys Kotlyar, who died in Donetsk region. He was on his way to the front line to replace fighters when a Russian FPV drone attacked an armored vehicle carrying law enforcement officers. This trip was Denis’s first combat mission as part of a special purpose police battalion. Prior to that, he worked as a district police officer in the Slobid department.
Photo: suspilne.media
According to the chief of police of the Kharkiv region, Petro Tokar, the police took all possible safety measures: the car was equipped with additional protective grilles against enemy drones. However, the Russians attacked with several drones in a row, and the armored vehicle could not withstand the blow. Tokar emotionally commented on the situation, painfully emphasizing:
“They say that the police don’t fight. I look at my relatives and I want to say: if the police don’t fight, then who are we hiding here?”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iZrYPriRqnI&t=122s&ab_channel=%D0%A1%D1%83%D1%81%D0%BF%D1%96%D0%BB%D1%8C%D0%BD%D0%B5%D0%A5%D0%B0%D1%80%D0%BA%D1%96%D0%B2
Denys Kotlyar joined the police rifle battalion in June 2024, when the unit was just being formed. Battalion commander Roman Goncharov remembers him as a fearless soldier who never refused to complete tasks. During his service in Sumy Oblast, Denys was in a combat zone and always acted professionally. Goncharov called him a hero and emphasized that this loss is extremely painful for the battalion.
On the eve of his death, Denis went on a rotation. His comrades had been holding positions for 18 days, destroying the enemy, and he was on his way to replace them. He knew that the place he was going to was one of the most dangerous. The godmother of the deceased Nataliya Volkov recalls his words: “I will go, I want, I have.” She says that she tried to dissuade him, saying: “Maybe it’s not time yet?”, but he answered: “When will it be time? Now is the time.”
Photo: suspilne.media
Denys Kotlyar devoted 12 years of his life to service in internal affairs bodies. He worked as a driver, patrolman, and later as a district inspector. His life was cut short on the front line, but his memory will live on in the hearts of his comrades who will continue the struggle. He is survived by his wife, 9-year-old daughter and parents.
This tragedy is another reminder that law enforcement officers are not just doing their duty behind the scenes, they are also fighting, sacrificing their lives to win. They risk no less than other military personnel, protecting the country at the hottest points of the front. Denys Kotlyar went to war because he knew that his place was where it was most difficult. He died as a true hero, and his name will forever remain in the memory of those who knew him and with whom he defended Ukraine side by side.
