Police Officer Sentenced to Up to Eight Years for Fatally Striking Girl in Pryluky

The police officer Olena Yushchenko was sentenced to eight years in prison in the case over a fatal traffic accident, as a result of which six-year-old Alisa Kuprienko died in Pryluky. This was reported by the Chernihiv-based publication “Chelain.” The Office of the General Prosecutor stated that Yushchenko received the maximum penalty. The accident occurred in December 10, 2025 year.

- Forensic-automotive examination confirmed that the police officer had the technical ability to avoid the collision if traffic rules had been followed. The court found the established violations to be the direct cause of the accident, the prosecutor’s office said.

Despite a speed limit of 40 km/h, the police car was moving at about 51–55 km/h. The vehicle had its flashing lights on, but the audible special signal was not used. The driver did not reduce speed before the crosswalk, did not yield to pedestrians, and did not take timely measures to stop the vehicle.

The police officer was also deprived of the right to drive transport for three years. In addition, the court ordered Olena Yushchenko to pay 26 108 hryvnias spent on treating the injured girl’s mother, Lyudmyla Kuprienko, and another 7000 hryvnias for reimbursement of relevant medical expenses.

The Chief Directorate of the National Police in Chernihiv region must pay the victim’s family compensation for moral damage. Specifically, the court ruled that three million hryvnias be paid to the father of the child due to the death of his underage daughter. For the mother, two million hryvnias were awarded as compensation for moral damages caused by the death of her daughter and the bodily injuries she sustained. The court also ordered one million hryvnias of moral damages to be paid to the sister of the deceased girl.

During the pretrial detention hearing, the accused explained that she saw pedestrians but could not brake in time. She said the patrol was heading to a call about another accident with flashing lights and sirens activated. A bail amount of 242 240 hryvnias was posted for the police officer, after which she was released from custody, but later she was arrested again. She also appealed her dismissal from service, the public broadcaster Suspline reports.

The public accusation in the case was supported by Deputy Prosecutor General Viktor Lohachov, who headed the prosecutors’ group. Together with the head and prosecutors of the Chernihiv regional prosecutor’s office, he represented the prosecution’s position and insisted on the police officer receiving the harshest possible sentence.

In Sumy, sisters aged five and ten died from Russian KABs.

The head of the National Police explained the status of the patrol officer who fled from the scene of the shooting.