The Making of Kiev's Police

October 02, 2015 | Pulitzer Center

Misha Friedman

Prospective police recruits during strength and endurance exams at Kiev Police Academy. Image by Misha Friedman. Ukraine, 2015.

Eka Zguladze, deputy interior minister in charge of the police reform, at the Police Academy in Kiev. Image by Misha Friedman. Ukraine, 2015.

Eka Zguladze at entrance interviews for new police recruits in Kiev. Image by Misha Friedman. Ukraine, 2015.

Tatiana Dyakova practicing gun safety at a firing range in Kiev. Image by Misha Friedman. Ukraine, 2015.

Laura Clare, an officer with California Highway Patrol, overseeing self-defense exercises of future Kiev Police Academy instructors. Image by Misha Friedman. Ukraine, 2015.

Future Kiev Police Academy instructors practicing with California Highway Patrol officers. Image by Misha Friedman. Ukraine, 2015.

Kiev Police Academy cadets practicing handcuffing techniques. Image by Misha Friedman. Ukraine, 2015.

Entertainers dressed in traditional Ukrainian clothes perform during Kiev Police graduation ceremony. Image by Misha Friedman. Ukraine, 2015.

Geoffrey R. Pyatt, U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine, with President Petro Poroshenko during the swearing-in ceremony for newly formed Kiev Police. Image by Misha Friedman. Ukraine, 2015.

Tourists pose for pictures with Kiev Police on their first day patrolling the city's streets. Image by Misha Friedman. Ukraine, 2015.

Kiev police make one of their first arrests as crowds watch. Image by Misha Friedman. Ukraine, 2015.

Anna Lerygina during her first night patrol of Kiev streets. Image by Misha Friedman. Ukraine, 2015.

Ukraine's police reform is a long process that will take several years. Selection and training of male and female candidates at the Kiev Police Academy started in early 2015. And now new police are out on the streets of several Ukrainian cities including Kiev, Lviv and Odessa.