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Kherson is not only about survival, but also about mutual support. Despite the daily dangers, people continue to work, help one another, and build their lives from scratch. One of the key pillars in this process is the police - those who take to the streets every day to make the community feel at least a little safer.
Police Captain Viacheslav Gribko, Head of the Public Relations Department of the Patrol Police Department in the Kherson Region, discussed the current work of the patrol police in the Kherson Region.
“Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, the approach to work has changed precisely in the patrol police. The patrol police are the police 'on the ground', next to the people, maintaining law and order and responding to traffic violations,” says Viacheslav Gribko. - Patrol police is one big name, but we have departments that deal with different areas of work.”
The public relations department today has two areas of work. The first is with young people, ranging from kindergarten to higher educational institutions, within the framework of the “Community School Officer” project. Police officers teach children the rules of the road, behavior in times of danger, and provide knowledge of mine safety and first aid.
“Children have changed. Children have grown up. They have become more serious, asking adult questions. They need to be heard. And this is very inspiring. And this area of work is vital. Community police officers also take an active part in this. Now, due to the security situation, it is more difficult,” Viacheslav Gribko answers our question about how children have changed in war conditions.
The second direction is to work with the public, establishing cooperation with public organizations and foundations.
After the liberation of the right-bank Kherson region, the police actually started work from scratch. Kherson residents met the first patrol officers with tears in their eyes. Today, the level of trust in the police is falling. We asked Viacheslav Gribko how interactions with the adult population are currently taking place and what could be improved in general.
“People were happy that the Ukrainian police had returned,” recalls Viacheslav Gribko. “But time has passed, and, unfortunately, the rhetoric of citizens has changed. We often hear “the police need to go to the front,” but at a critical moment, we are the first to call. People can be understood; they live under constant shelling. Our task is to explain how to act correctly in a given situation, as citizens often expect the police to solve everything at once. I always say that police officers today serve in difficult conditions. They are the same people, and when they go for evacuation, they don’t know if they will return from there alive.”
Police, volunteers, the State Emergency Service, and communities are now working side by side. It’s not always easy - there is a lack of armored vehicles, safe meeting rooms, and human resources: “The main thing that is missing is the understanding of the population. Everyone is already exhausted. Everyone already wants stability to begin. But, unfortunately, this is not happening. Of course, it’s easier to write some criticism on the phone. I always say - it’s better to help the community. And now there is a very cool activity in the communities - they weave nets, hold holidays for children, and gatherings for the military.”
Public organizations and charitable foundations have become a real threat to the police. They create safe hubs, organize meetings with children, collect humanitarian aid, and conduct security training.
“We work with everyone ready to cooperate,” says Viacheslav Gribko. "And I am sincerely grateful to everyone who finds the strength to continue. Because public activists also burn out. But they rise again, launch new projects, help us and people. And this is inspiring."
In his opinion, it is the work of the public that can become an example for other countries, not for different cities.
What else does the community need to feel safer? Viacheslav Gribko is convinced: not only technology or shelter. “There is not enough communication campaign. People need to know where to turn, who can help, and what services are available to them. Simple things, such as leaflets, information posters, and hotlines, can save lives. Communication between the authorities and the public is important.”
Security is a joint matter. When the authorities and the community act together, even in the most challenging conditions, what emerges is trust. And with trust, recovery begins.
And finally, we traditionally asked how Viacheslav Gribko sees the future Kherson: “Blooming, restored, rebuilt. I believe that our Armed Forces will liberate the tourist part of the region, and this will be a cool direction for development. Our city will be the most beautiful after reconstruction.”
We invite you to participate in an anonymous survey to help us better understand the moods, needs, and challenges faced by the population of the Kherson region, and to assess the effectiveness of the work of public organizations and authorities. Each of your answers is a crucial brick in the foundation of your future recovery. Your answers are completely anonymous and will be used exclusively in a generalized form for analytical purposes.
The interview has been produced by the Kherson Regional Charitable Foundation “Union” with the support of the European Endowment for Democracy (EED). Its contents do not necessarily reflect the official opinion of EED. Responsibility for the information and views expressed in this publication lies entirely with the authors.
