Kubernetes Pods cannot be stopped directly using Kubectl, but they can be paused or suspended by scaling down Deployments or StatefulSets to zero replicas. This effectively stops the service provided by the Pods without deleting them. Additionally, Pods can be deleted manually with Kubectl, and their deletion triggers a graceful shutdown process that allows running processes to complete before removal. Kubernetes Operators often provide mechanisms for stopping their managed Pods, which should be used instead of manual deletion or scaling down Deployments and StatefulSets.