Court, investigation and versions: how the case of the Shargorod tragedy is unfolding
11 September 19:24
on September 10, 2025, an event occurred in the city of Shargorod, Vinnytsia region, that shook the entire country. Two schoolchildren, Vladyslav Bevza and Mykola Bilyk, were fatally shot on their way to school. The attacker, according to investigators, was a 23-year-old local resident, a former English teacher who used to work in the village of Kopystyryn, where the victims studied, "Komersant Ukrainian" reports.
Court decision: arrest without bail
on September 11, the Vinnytsia City Court ruled to take suspect Oleksiy Ponomaryov into custody for 60 days without bail, Suspilne reports .
The hearing was closed at the request of the prosecutor’s office, which was also supported by the defense, because the case involves minors and contains sensitive information.
Motives and mental state: more questions than answers
The head of the Vinnytsia regional prosecutor’s office, Oleh Tkalenko, said that the suspect pleaded not guilty. He preliminarily explained his actions by “hostile relations,” but the final motive remains unknown.
The prosecutor’s office will order a psychiatric examination to assess Ponomaryov’s mental state. “We will definitely do this. The handwriting is such, and the crime is brazen – to inflict such a number of blows within 40 seconds,” Tkalenko said.
Rumors and denials: social media vs. official data
Speculation about bullying, rape, and other motives related to the victims were spread on social media. The prosecutor’s office and police denied these versions. Vinnytsia police spokeswoman Zarina Mayevska said that the police had not received any information about the rape of the suspect’s younger brother.
Community reaction: mourning and shock
The mayor of Shargorod, Volodymyr Baretsky, called the incident a “great tragedy.” The city declared two days of mourning. Students, teachers and community members are in a state of deep shock.
What’s next: the investigation is ongoing
Law enforcement officers continue to investigate. The suspect is in custody, and the investigation will establish the exact motives, mental state and circumstances of the crime.
