On September 3, 2026, a tragic event occurred in the Pavlohrad district of Dnipropetrovsk region: while documenting the aftermath of a preliminary enemy shelling in the Bohdanivka community, a repeat strike by an unmanned aerial vehicle was carried out at the workplace of the investigative-operational group of the National Police of Ukraine. As a result of the attack, two law enforcement officers were killed — Police Captain Oleksandr Hryhorchenko and Senior Lieutenant of Police Serhiy Shmatko — while another officer sustained serious injuries and was hospitalized. This was reported by RBC-Ukraine, citing an official statement from the National Police of Ukraine.
Circumstances of the attack
According to law enforcement, on September 3 the investigative-operational group was dispatched to the Pavlohrad district to document the aftermath of a previously delivered enemy strike on the territory of the Bohdanivka community. The group included Police Captain Oleksandr Hryhorchenko and Senior Lieutenant of Police Serhiy Shmatko. While the officers were carrying out their duties and documenting the scene, the enemy delivered a repeat strike using an unmanned aerial vehicle. It was this second strike that caused the deaths and injuries of the police officers.
Casualties and injured
Police Captain Oleksandr Hryhorchenko died at the scene immediately after the drone hit. Senior Lieutenant of Police Serhiy Shmatko sustained serious injuries; medical workers attempted to save his life, but the man could not be saved. A third law enforcement officer, who was part of the investigative-operational group, also sustained serious injuries and is currently in a medical facility receiving the necessary care. The National Police of Ukraine published photographs of the deceased officers on its official channels.
Context: attacks on other regions of Ukraine
The tragedy in Dnipropetrovsk region occurred against the backdrop of ongoing massive enemy attacks on Ukrainian territory. On the morning of September 4, unmanned aerial vehicles struck Odesa: as a result of the attack, one person was killed and three others were injured. Residential buildings and cars were damaged in the city. The previous evening, on September 3, Russia struck Kropyvnytskyi with loitering munitions: one person was injured, and the explosions damaged the roof of a multi-story residential building and the territory of an enterprise. Thus, over two days, attacks were recorded in at least three regions of the country.
Reaction and significance of the incident
The death of two police officers in the line of duty — during routine but essential work documenting the aftermath of shelling — underscores the extreme danger faced by law enforcement officers amid ongoing hostilities. The fact of a repeat strike on an already hit site where investigative-operational groups are working indicates a deliberate enemy tactic aimed at creating additional threats to civilian services. The National Police of Ukraine confirmed the circumstances of the incident and expressed condolences to the families of the deceased.
