In Zaporizhzhia, the police refused to open a criminal case regarding the brutal beating of a café employee

In a café in Zaporizhzhia, a drunken man brutally assaulted a female employee.

An incident the victim, Sofia, shared on social media, with the attack being captured on security cameras.

According to Sofia, the event occurred on September 26, when a group of intoxicated men began provoking conflicts with other patrons.

Sofia stated that the attacker became aggressive after she called the police due to the disorderly behavior of the drunk group. Footage shows that the café’s patrons silently watched as the woman was beaten for an extended period with both fists and feet. The attacker boasted that “nothing would happen to him” because he had a relative working in the police. Law enforcement officers initially refused to open a criminal case, only doing so after Sofia’s lawyer reached out to the prosecutor’s office.

Sofia was diagnosed with a concussion, multiple bruises, and a broken nose.

Although police arrived at the scene, they failed to open a criminal case for 24 hours. It was only after the video was made public and attracted attention that law enforcement responded, officially registering the case on October 3.

The Zaporizhzhia Regional National Police reported that a pre-trial investigation has been initiated under Part 1 of Article 125 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (intentional minor bodily injury). The victim was referred for a forensic medical examination.

The attacker has been identified as a 28-year-old local resident, and the investigation is determining his level of responsibility. Additionally, an internal review is underway regarding the police’s delayed response to the crime report.