A former judge will stand trial in Kyiv following a conflict that involved gunfire

In early May 2026, a conflict broke out in the courtyard of an apartment building in Kyiv involving the then-judge of the capital’s Shevchenkivskyi District Court. He no longer holds that position, and the case against him has been referred to court. According to the Kyiv City Prosecutor’s Office, the pretrial investigation has been completed, and the indictment has already been sent to court.

According to the investigation, the altercation was triggered by the man playing Russian music loudly in the courtyard of a residential building. Other people confronted him and asked him to turn it off. The prosecutor’s office claims that in response, the man began swearing profusely, after which he got out of his car with a firearm. According to investigators, he ostentatiously cocked the weapon and pointed it at the people with whom he was arguing.

Despite requests from bystanders to calm down, the man did not stop his actions. During the altercation, one of the bystanders knocked him to the ground while trying to disarm him. However, according to law enforcement, the defendant managed to fire three random shots.

The prosecutor’s office notes that his actions posed a real threat to the lives and health of people who were nearby and witnessed the incident. The former judge is charged with hooliganism involving the use of a weapon under Part 4 of Article 296 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. If found guilty, he faces three to seven years in prison.

The Kyiv City Prosecutor’s Office reported that all materials related to the criminal proceedings have already been submitted to the court, which will hear the case on its merits. At the same time, in accordance with Article 62 of the Constitution of Ukraine, a person is presumed innocent until proven guilty by a court verdict. This was reported by the Office of the Prosecutor General.