The Ministry of Internal Affairs appointed Colonel Mykhailo Lebed as the head of the MIA department in the Volyn region. This was announced by Minister of Internal Affairs Yuriy Lutsenko on February 26 in Lutsk, introducing the new head of the Volyn police, according to "Ukrainian News."\n\nFrom May 2001 to December 2002, Mykhailo Lebed worked as the head of the Department for Combating Organized Crime in the Volyn region, then was appointed head of the criminal police in the Kherson region, where he worked until recently.\n\nLutsenko gave Lebed 2 months so that the newly appointed head could prove his ability to work effectively during this time: he must replace all department heads, seriously tackle the depoliticization and decriminalization of the police, fight banditry, and especially focus on combating organized criminal groups.\n\nIn addition to these nationwide tasks, Lebed must also restore order at the Volyn customs, investigate cases related to violations of forestry legislation in this region, and find those who set fire to the apartment of the current governor of the Volyn region, Volodymyr Bondar.\n\nLutsenko also emphasized the need to reform the State Automobile Inspection service. The minister promised that there would be no "privileged persons" before the law, and that everyone without exception would be held accountable for violations of legislation, including people's deputies. To avoid corruption on the roads, the MIA intends to introduce license plates marked "VRU." "Anyone who wishes will be able to have a Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine plate. And traffic police officers will still stop him if he violates the rules," he said. According to the minister, the leadership will now work for the rank-and-file police officer, not the other way around, and the ministry's policy will be aimed at how to socially protect the rank-and-file police officer.\n\nThe newly appointed head of the Volyn region MIA department promised that he would try to justify the trust placed in him and would inform the minister of his progress in 2 months.\n\nRecall that on February 18, the MIA dismissed the head of the Volyn region MIA department, Oleksandr Kmyta, who had held this position since September 2003.