Child Abuse Case Uncovered in Kyiv
Police in Kyiv's Desnianskyi district have arrested a 36-year-old woman on charges of systematically torturing her 9-year-old son. The investigation began after the director of the boy's school in the Lisovy district reported the incident to the Desnianskyi police department. Following a pre-trial investigation, the child was removed from the home by police and social services working together.
The woman faces charges under Part 1 of Article 126-1 (domestic violence) and Part 1 of Article 127 (torture) of Ukraine's Criminal Code. If convicted, she could face up to six years in prison. The mother's alleged abuse included:
- Forcing the boy to sleep in a toilet;
- Severely restricting his movement;
- Making him eat stale bread;
- Beating him with her hands, a belt, and a charger cable;
- Tying him up;
- Crushing his fingers in a door;
- Verbally abusing, humiliating, and threatening him with physical violence.
Domestic Violence Statistics in Ukraine
In 2025, Ukraine's Prosecutor General's Office opened 1,996 criminal proceedings related to domestic violence. Since the start of the full-scale invasion, the number of such cases has decreased by 28%. Authorities currently register approximately 180 domestic violence cases per month, with 274 proceedings opened in January 2025 alone. In a separate incident, police in the Bila Tserkva district of the Kyiv region detained a 24-year-old man for torturing a 4-year-old girl. These cases highlight a persistent societal issue, even as official numbers fluctuate due to wartime conditions.
This case underscores the serious problem of domestic violence in Ukraine, which remains a pressing concern despite the recent decline in reported cases.
The school director's intervention demonstrates the critical role educators and community members play in identifying and reporting suspected abuse, which can be vital for protecting children. Protecting children from violence requires sustained attention and active measures from both the state and society as a whole.