---
title: "Explosion at a Rivne police station: one officer killed, three injured — SBI investigates violation of ammunition storage rules"
description: "On August 31, an explosion occurred in the courtyard of Police Station No. 1 in Rivne: one officer was killed and three were seriously injured. The SBI is investigating the incident under the article on negligent storage of ammunition, and expert examinations have been appointed."
date: 2026-09-01T10:34:02.000Z
lang: en
url: https://xab.info/en/posts/explosion-at-rivne-police-station-sbi-investigation
tags: [ukraine, police, explosion, rovno, gbri, investigation, safety-violation]
publisher: "XAB.info"
---

# Explosion at a Rivne police station: one officer killed, three injured — SBI investigates violation of ammunition storage rules

![Ukrainian police forensic laboratory vehicle and an officer at the scene of the explosion at the Rovno police station](https://xab.info/media/2026/09/01/vzryv-v-otdelenii-policii-rovno-gbr-rassledovanie/vzryv-v-otdelenii-policii-rovno-gbr-rassledovanie-1.webp)

## 🎯 Key Points

- On August 31, 2026, at approximately 15:30, an explosion occurred in the courtyard of Police Station No. 1 in Rivne, killing one officer and injuring three others
- Preliminary version — detonation of an explosive device due to a violation of storage rules; classification under Article 264 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine
- There is a discrepancy in sources regarding the position of the deceased: "deputy head" or "explosives technician"
- The SBI has completed the scene inspection, seized fragments and documentation, and appointed expert examinations; procedural oversight — Rivne Regional Prosecutor's Office

On August 31, 2026, at approximately 15:30, an explosion occurred in the inner courtyard of Police Station No. 1 of the Rivne District Police Directorate, killing one law enforcement officer and seriously injuring three others, who were rushed to hospital. Preliminary data indicates that the cause of the incident was the detonation of an explosive device located on the premises of the facility. A forensic and operational team from the State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) immediately dispatched to the scene has already completed the inspection of the explosion site and seized fragments of the detonated object, as well as official documentation.

### Victims and injured

According to data reported in initial statements, the person killed in the explosion is a deputy head of the directorate. Among the three seriously injured are the head of one of the directorates, another deputy head, and an inspector of one of the departments. All three were taken to a medical facility where they are receiving the necessary treatment. The exact health condition of the injured was not disclosed at the time of publication.

### Preliminary version and course of the investigation

The investigation is considering the version of a possible violation of safety requirements for the storage of explosive items. The actions of the law enforcement officers have been classified under Part 1 of Article 264 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine — negligent storage of firearms or ammunition. Procedural oversight of the investigation is carried out by the Rivne Regional Prosecutor's Office. As part of urgent investigative actions, witnesses to the incident are being questioned, and a number of expert examinations have been appointed to establish the direct cause of the detonation and other circumstances of the incident. Final conclusions on the causes of the explosion have not yet been made.

### Contradictory data

There is a discrepancy between various sources regarding the exact position of the deceased officer. In initial reports and the data provided as the basis for the publication, the deceased is identified as a "deputy head of the directorate." However, a number of media outlets, in particular the publication "Slovo i Dilo" (slovoidilo.ua), state in the headline and body of their report that an "explosives technician" was killed. This fundamental difference in the qualification of the deceased's role may be significant for understanding the circumstances of the case: if the deceased was indeed a specialist in handling explosive items, this substantially changes the context of the possible safety rule violation. Until an official clarification from the SBI or the prosecutor's office, both versions remain under consideration.

### Broader context: SBI inspection of military units

The incident in Rivne occurred against the backdrop of a large-scale inspection initiated by the State Bureau of Investigation into possible abuses in Ukrainian military units. As part of this campaign, law enforcement officers are investigating the circumstances of fictitious service by certain military personnel, the unlawful crediting of payments, and the involvement of fighters in private work. Experts note that the explosion at a police facility, classified as a violation of ammunition storage rules, may be linked to systemic problems in the accounting and control of explosive items within the security structures; however, a direct connection between the two areas of the SBI's work was not confirmed at the time of publication.

### What is known at this point

As of September 1, 2026, investigative actions are ongoing. The inspection of the scene has been completed, and the seized materials have been sent for expert examination. The investigation does not rule out reclassification of the actions upon receipt of the expert examination results. Official bodies are calling for the non-spread of unconfirmed information and are directing all comment requests exclusively to statements from the SBI and the Rivne Regional Prosecutor's Office.

## 🔍 Fact-Check Verification

- [SBI investigates explosion at Rivne police station, where an explosive device may have detonated](https://www.rbc.ua/ukr/news/dbr-rozslidue-vibuh-politsiyi-rivnogo-mig-1788258650.html) - Подтверждает факт взрыва, предварительную версию детонации боеприпаса и ведение расследования ГБР.
- [Explosion at Rivne police station: SBI names preliminary version and the position of the deceased](https://www.pravda.com.ua/rus/news/2026/09/01/8051303/) - Подтверждает назовании предварительной версии и должности погибшего со стороны ГБР.
- [Explosion at a police station in Rivne: SBI opens investigation following the death of an explosives technician](https://ru.slovoidilo.ua/2026/08/31/novost/bezopasnost/vzryv-otdelenii-policii-rovno-gbr-nachalo-rassledovanie-gibeli-vzryvotexniki) - Подтверждает факт инцидента, однако в заголовке называет погибшего «взрывотехником», что расходится с версией «заместитель начальника управления» из первичного текста.
- [Explosion at Rivne district police station — SBI opens investigation and names preliminary version](https://kp.ua/incidents/a735368-vzryv-v-rajotdele-politsii-rovno-dbr-nachalo-rassledovanie-i-nazvalo-predvaritelnuju-versiju) - Подтверждает факт взрыва, начало расследования и озвучивание предварительной версии ГБР.

## ❓ FAQ

### Q: What happened at the police station in Rivne on August 31?
**A:** At approximately 15:30, an explosion occurred in the inner courtyard of Police Station No. 1 of the Rivne District Police Directorate. Preliminary data indicates that an explosive device located on the premises of the facility detonated. One officer was killed and three were seriously injured.

### Q: What is the preliminary cause of the explosion?
**A:** The investigation is considering the version of a violation of safety requirements for the storage of explosive items. The actions have been classified under Part 1 of Article 264 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine — negligent storage of firearms or ammunition. Final conclusions will be drawn after the expert examinations are completed.

### Q: Who is conducting the investigation?
**A:** Urgent investigative actions are being carried out by the State Bureau of Investigation. Procedural oversight is exercised by the Rivne Regional Prosecutor's Office. The inspection of the explosion site has been completed, fragments and official documentation have been seized, witnesses are being questioned, and expert examinations have been appointed.

### Q: Are there any contradictions in the information about the deceased?
**A:** Yes. In the initial data, the deceased is listed as a deputy head of the directorate, however a number of media outlets (in particular, slovoidilo.ua) name him as an explosives technician. Until an official clarification from the SBI, both versions remain under consideration.