What happened
On February 23 at around 18:10 an explosion occurred on the premises of an inactive gas station in Mykolaiv. According to the head of the National Police, Ivan Vyhivskyi, the incident injured seven officers of the Patrol Police Department who had arrived for a shift change and had parked their service vehicles.
"The day before yesterday a terrorist attack against police officers took place in Lviv. This is not a coincidence. The enemy is deliberately trying to kill Ukrainian police officers who daily stand to protect the people and the state"
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy, President of Ukraine
Two of the injured are in serious condition: medics are fighting for their lives. Explosive ordnance technicians, investigators and medical teams worked at the scene; a decision is being made about the possible evacuation of the wounded to Kyiv for further treatment.
Reaction of authorities and law enforcement
"All circumstances are being clarified. In particular, the version regarding a terrorist act is being checked. I have instructed the National Police and the Security Service to inform the public of the necessary details"
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy, President of Ukraine
"It's still too early to say anything, explosives technicians have begun working on site. At the moment I'm most concerned about the condition of the patrol officers. I have instructed that a decision be made now on whether anyone needs to be transported to Kyiv for treatment. They are continually reporting to me; I am keeping it under control"
— Ihor Klymenko, Minister of Internal Affairs
Classification and investigative actions
UPDATED: The Security Service of Ukraine has classified the explosion as a terrorist act and opened the corresponding criminal proceedings. The SBU, together with the National Police, is conducting operational measures to establish the circumstances and the persons involved in the incident.
Under current legislation, the article on terrorism provides for a sentence of up to 12 years in prison if the crime did not cause fatalities. The investigation is ongoing — law enforcement is focused on finding the perpetrators and possible accomplices.
Context: is there a connection with previous attacks?
This event comes against the backdrop of an explosion recorded the previous day in Lviv, which killed a 23-year-old police officer and injured more than 20 people. Law enforcement then detained a suspected female perpetrator, and the criminal investigation continues.
Analysts and security experts point to the recurring nature of attacks specifically targeting police officers — this may indicate attempts to destabilize public order or demoralize law enforcement. At the same time, final conclusions should be drawn only after the investigative actions are completed.
What this means and what will be done next
In the short term, increased control is expected at intersections, at locations where shifts assemble and near logistical points where groups of law enforcement gather. The SBU and National Police investigation must establish the motive, method and possible organizers; further response policy will depend on those findings.
Practical conclusion: for citizens — pay attention to official communications and do not spread unverified versions. For authorities — deliver swift, transparent results of the investigation that will support not only statements but also the real protection of people.
Summary
The incident in Mykolaiv is a serious challenge to the state's security and to the law enforcement system. It fits into a series of alarming incidents in recent days and requires an operational, systemic response. Whether there are sufficient resources and coordination to break the chain of attacks is a question society expects an answer to in the coming days.
