In the conditions of martial law, the priority tasks of police officers of Kirovograd region are to help people and ensure security, — Roman Koziakov
The head of the regional police chief spoke about the peculiarities of the law enforcement service during the large-scale Russian aggression, the implementation of security projects in the region in the new realities, as well as the involvement of police officers in the work with displaced persons and the activities of colleagues in the de-occupied territories.
How has the work of the police of the Kirovograd region changed since February 24?
Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion of the Russian Federation into Ukraine, police officers of the Kirovograd region performed a number of functions that were related to ensuring public security and order in the territory of service, identifying persons who worked or acted in the interests of the enemy. Also, work was provided on the regulation of traffic during the movement of vehicles from the east to the west of Ukraine, as well as from the southern part of our state through the territory of the oblast. There were situations that required the presence of police officers on the road, in certain areas of the area, due to the lack of signs or markers of settlements. The police directed the flow of vehicles in the right direction.
At the time of the invasion, a number of checkpoints were deployed on the territory of the region, where, together with the public, participants of territorial defense, fighters of the National Guard, measures were carried out aimed at checking vehicles and suspicious persons moving around the area. Appropriate outfits were also created, which during the day and at night — for the period of curfew, carried out patrols, checking persons who aroused suspicion. Persons who had information about involvement in activities in the interests of the enemy were trained. Kirovograd region became a new home for tens of thousands of residents of other regions.
How are police officers involved in their integration and adaptation to life in new conditions?
At present, more than 92 thousand displaced people live in the region, including more than 26 thousand children. A certain part of the activities of the police of Kirovograd region is related to the promotion of safe and comfortable stay in the region of these citizens. In particular, some of the efforts are focused on working with children to further adapt and ensure the learning process in schools and other educational institutions. Accordingly, in August, meetings with the Department of Education of the Kirovograd Regional State Administration were held and the directions and specifics of work with the displaced persons were determined. In order to fulfill the mandate of the Minister of Internal Affairs and the Head of the National Police of Ukraine, the presence of police officers in schools, determination of action algorithms in case of air alarm, simulation of situations related to the stay of children in educational institutions and possible danger that may arise are ensured. Together with representatives of the State Emergency Service, the procedure for staying in shelters, timely response to certain events or information is determined. Attention is also paid to the integration of displaced children, communication with them, prevention of any offenses in the school environment. How do we manage to implement security projects in the region in the conditions of martial law?
What is the general situation with the formation of a security environment?
Kirovohrad region participates in the “Safety Educator” project, which is being implemented in general in the state. Six representatives of territorial communities have been trained and now work in educational institutions with children. The project is currently ongoing, two more safety educators from our area will be sent for training. This is an auxiliary component in creating a safe environment directly in schools.
Also in Kirovograd region, the implementation of the project “Community Police Officer” continues. Today we have 25 communities with 36 police officers. By the end of the year, it is planned to add four more communities to the project, which will allow us to strengthen the police presence in order to create a safe environment in even more areas.
Police officers, district officers, juvenile police continue preventive work, which also contributes to maintaining at the proper level the state of law and order in the region. Has the work of police changed due to forced power outages?
What additional assistance can law enforcement officers provide to citizens in this situation?
In conditions of power outage, police officers of Kirovograd region are conducting enhanced patrols. Objects of critical infrastructure and social sphere requiring increased attention were identified, patrol routes were defined, on which both police and representatives of volunteer formations of territorial communities and fighters of the National Guard serve. In case of a prolonged power outage, an algorithm of actions was developed and routed patrols of police officers and representatives of the DFTG, public groups, private security structures regarding the stay and ensuring public security in the specified territories.
Deployed 303 heating points and breakability points. Police patrol routes are close to their locations. Also, the State Emergency Service in the region deployed 49 points of invulnerability. Citizens can apply to 27 territorial units of the Kirovograd region police for assistance, heating, charging mobile devices, or other gadgets in case of lack of electricity supply. Are law enforcement officers from Kirovograd region involved in service in the territory of other regions?
What exactly do the tasks perform?
Police officers of Kirovohrad region not only serve in the territory of the region, but also, by order of the Head of the National Police, some of the employees are sent to the de-occupied territory of the Kherson region, where they document war crimes, identify persons who worked in the interests of the enemy, patrol the territory, and also carry out other stabilization activities and provide assistance to people. Professional, responsible, patriotic attitude towards the performance of their official duties contributes to the approximation of our Victory.
