Odesa Driver Stabs Enlistment Officer in the Neck, Tries to Run Him Over

Odesa's regional territorial recruitment and social support centre (TCC) reported an attack on a serviceman in Odesa: during a document check, a driver stabbed the soldier in the neck and tried to run him over with a car, according to the centre and the Pivden (South) operational command on Facebook.

According to the military, on October 20 a joint TCC and police notification team at a checkpoint in Odesa spotted a car whose driver tried to flee and created an emergency situation. After a forced stop it turned out the driver was wanted for violating military registration rules. While officers tried to establish his identity, he put up active resistance.

Official account

"He put up active resistance, wounded the serviceman in the neck area with an object that looked like a knife, and then attempted to run him over with a vehicle. The offender was detained at the scene. The injured serviceman was immediately taken to a medical facility, where he received the necessary care; he is under the supervision of doctors," the statement said.

Law enforcement agencies are carrying out investigative actions and preparing the legal classification of the attacker's actions for criminal prosecution. The Pivden operational command stressed that it strongly condemns violence against service members on duty. "Any manifestations of violence, attacks on the life, health or honour of Ukrainian Armed Forces service members while performing their duties are unacceptable, criminal and entail the strictest, inevitable liability under current law," it said. More in our world section.