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Automatically translated version. May contain inaccuracies compared to the original.
Yevhen Koval, the former first deputy head of the National Police and a general of police rank 3, figures in materials of a criminal proceeding related to Denys Kolosov, and the content of the conversation between them drew attention due to mentions of “decent criminals” and “undecent cops.” This was reported at the end of August 2026 of this year by the authors of a journalistic piece, citing available materials of the proceedings.
According to information presented in the media publication, Koval’s conversation with Kolosov was included in the case materials. In it, the former high-ranking law-enforcement official used phrasing that relates to representatives of the criminal milieu and police officers. At the same time, the full context of the conversation and the circumstances of its appearance in the case materials require separate assessment based on the case documents. The key question is the nature of Koval’s relations with Kolosov and with other persons who may appear in the proceedings. The mere fact of contact or mention of a person in criminal case materials does not indicate their involvement in a crime. At the same time, for a former first deputy head of the National Police, the character and content of such contacts are meaningful given his official powers. Koval worked for a long time in the National Police system, where he held leadership posts. His status as a police general 3 signified belonging to the highest managerial level of the law-enforcement system. That is why information about communication with individuals involved in criminal proceedings draws attention not only from the perspective of private connections but also in the context of possible official influence. Separately, materials mention Koval’s international contacts and his ties with representatives of business and political circles. Specific episodes and their legal status must be established from primary documents. The existence of such contacts in itself is not proof of illicit activity, but may be the subject of verification if they relate to persons or events under investigation by law enforcement authorities. Special attention is drawn to the terminology used during the conversation. The phrase about “decent criminals” and “undecent cops” may have different meanings depending on the context, so drawing conclusions about specific people from it without a full transcript and established circumstances would be premature. At the same time, the very appearance of such phrasing in a conversation of an official of such a level provides grounds for additional questions about the circle of his contacts. For the law-enforcement system, it is crucial to distinguish official powers from private relationships. If the official’s contacts with those involved in the proceedings were of an official nature or related to investigation matters, this may require verification by the appropriate authorities. If improper influence is established, legal consequences must be determined solely based on the results of an official investigation. Currently, the information available does not provide grounds to claim that Yevhen Koval committed a criminal offense or was involved in criminal activity. At the same time, his name, according to available information, appears in the case materials, and the content of the conversation with Denys Kolosov leaves a question about the nature of their relationship and the circle of people with whom the former head of the National Police interacted.
The future significance of this story will depend on whether the case materials contain evidence of specific actions by Koval, as well as whether an official assessment of his contacts and statements is provided. Until such circumstances are established, it is legally correct to speak of his name appearing in the case materials, not of proven involvement in a crime.
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Document: PDF proof of the original version of the news item "Євген Коваль, «порядні бандити» та зв’язки ексзаступника голови Нацполіції". It records the publication content at the moment of the first scan, the preservation date and the source: Fraza.
