Tragedy Strikes Rivne Region
On June 21, at approximately 4:40 PM, authorities received a report that a 15-year-old girl had gone missing while swimming in a pond in Dubrovytsia. The local resident had gone to the pond with friends, without any adults present. After a 40-minute search, a local resident discovered the girl's body.
That same day, around 11:00 PM, a 38-year-old woman from the village of Prysluch contacted police to report her 11-year-old daughter missing. The girl had drowned in the Sluch River near Prysluch around 8:00 PM. Divers located the child's body approximately 800 meters from where she was last seen.
Additionally, at around 1:20 AM on June 21, a resident of the village of Tseptsevychi reported her 13-year-old son missing. The boy had left to ride his bicycle around 7:00 PM and never returned. Later, around 10:00 AM, the teenager's body was found in the Horyn River near Tseptsevychi.
Investigators have launched pre-trial inquiries into all three incidents under Article 115, Part 1 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, which covers intentional homicide with a note of accidental death. Police are working to establish the circumstances and are urging parents to closely supervise their children.
'We repeat once again: children's safety is first and foremost the responsibility of adults. Do not leave minors unattended near bodies of water, monitor their leisure time, and constantly remind them of safe behavior rules on the water. Remember: water does not forgive carelessness. Do not allow children to swim alone or in unapproved areas, explain the dangers of relaxing near water without adult supervision, and set an example of responsible safety habits.'
Earlier, on June 11, a 15-year-old teenager drowned while swimming in a pond in the village of Noskivtsi, Stanislavchytsia community, in Vinnytsia region. This tragedy further underscores the critical need for adult oversight when children are near water.
Appeal to Parents
These incidents in the Rivne region have raised serious concerns about child safety during summer recreation. It is essential that parents recognize their responsibility for their children's well-being, especially in situations where children may be left unsupervised. Police and local authorities continue to call for stricter supervision of children, emphasizing the need to follow water safety rules.
The recent drownings in Rivne Region highlight a troubling trend of water-related incidents involving children. Just days prior, similar tragedies occurred in Kyiv and Vinnytsia, where teenagers lost their lives while swimming. These incidents serve as a stark reminder of the importance of vigilance and supervision near water bodies. For more details on these unfortunate events, read about the drownings in Kyiv and Vinnytsia Region.