Policeman killed after Russian FPV drone strikes service car in Ukraine

A Ukrainian police officer was killed and another seriously wounded on Saturday when a Russian FPV drone struck their service vehicle in Kherson, according to the National Police of Ukraine.

Captain Vitaliy Kukharchuk, 35, of the special-purpose rifle battalion of the Main Directorate of the National Police in Kherson region, was driving when the attack occurred near the city’s bus station. He and a fellow officer were returning from duty. Spotting the incoming drone, Kukharchuk sharply turned the vehicle in an attempt to evade the strike. The main blast hit the driver’s side. He died instantly.

His comrade, known by the callsign Kurbashi, sustained serious injuries but survived. He later stated that the drone had initially been heading toward a nearby civilian minibus before changing course and targeting the police car. “Vitaliy took the hit on himself, saving the lives of civilians,” Kurbashi said.

Kukharchuk, known to colleagues by the callsign “Vitamin,” had served in the police for more than 15 years. He began in the traffic police, later worked as a community officer, and transferred to a special-purpose unit in 2021. From summer 2024 he served in the rifle battalion and as part of a mobile fire group tasked with intercepting enemy drones over Kherson.

Colleagues recalled his earlier actions during the 2023 flooding caused by the destruction of the Kakhovka hydroelectric dam, when he helped evacuate residents from inundated areas of Kherson under shelling. They described him as a reliable commander who prioritised the safety of those under his command and remained calm under fire.

His wife, Dina, said the couple had known each other since youth, married in November 2024 in Mykolaiv, and that he rarely spoke to her about the dangers of his work so as not to worry her. The family has submitted a petition seeking the posthumous award of the title Hero of Ukraine.

The National Police of Ukraine published a memorial article on 7 October 2026 containing recollections from his wife, comrades and colleagues.