Death of a 6-year-old girl in a car crash in Pryluky: appellate court upheld verdict against former police officer

On 21 October 2026 the Chernihiv Court of Appeal left unchanged the verdict against a former police officer, sentenced to 8 years in prison for a fatal car crash in Pryluky that killed a 6-year-old girl and injured her mother.

The public prosecution in the case was represented by Deputy Prosecutor General Viktor Lohachov and the head of the Chernihiv Regional Prosecutor’s Office, Serhii Deineka.

During the appeal hearing, prosecutors insisted on leaving the verdict unchanged, opposing the defense’s requests to impose a non-custodial sentence. The court upheld the prosecution’s position and denied the appeal.

Recall that on 10 December 2025 around 11:44 in Pryluky, Chernihiv region, a police officer driving a patrol vehicle en route to a call about a crash struck a 36-year-old woman and her young daughter. They were crossing the road at a signal-controlled pedestrian crossing on Vyacheslav Chornovil Street.

The patrol vehicle had its flashing lights on, but the siren was not used. The driver did not reduce speed before the crossing, did not yield to the pedestrians, and did not take timely measures to stop the vehicle.

From her injuries the 6-year-old girl died at the scene. Her mother was hospitalized with bodily injuries.

Criminal proceedings were opened on the day of the tragedy. In April 2026 the court began considering the case on the merits. During closing arguments prosecutors pressed for the maximum penalty provided by the sanction of part 2 of article 286 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.

On 4 August 2026 the Pryluky City District Court found the former police officer guilty and imposed the maximum sentence — 8 years in prison with deprivation of the right to drive vehicles for 3 years.

Office of the Prosecutor General