Mother Sentenced to 3 Years for Starving Her Disabled 10-Year-Old Son to Death; Prosecutors Appeal the Ruling

Court Ruling in Child Death Case Involving Disability

According to Главком: A 42-year-old woman from the Mohyliv-Podilskyi district has been convicted for the death of her 10-year-old son, who had a disability, and sentenced to three years in prison. The boy was classified under disability subgroup A due to organic central nervous system damage from a congenital condition. He was unable to care for himself and required specialized medical supervision. The verdict was handed down on March 31 by the Mohyliv-Podilskyi City District Court in Vinnytsia Oblast, where the woman was found guilty under Part 3 of Article 135 and Article 166 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. The prosecution has appealed the sentence.

Tragedy in the Village of Serebriya

The tragedy occurred in the village of Serebriya, Mohyliv-Podilskyi district. The child’s condition reportedly deteriorated rapidly starting in June 2025. The mother failed to provide adequate care and specialized nutrition, resulting in the boy going without food for at least two months. He died on December 16, 2025. It was also noted that the mother did not seek medical help. The primary care for the boy before his death was provided by his grandparents.

Social and medical service representatives documented the child’s declining health from August to December 2025 but took no protective action. As a result, a social worker has been charged under Part 2 of Article 137 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine for failing to fulfill duties to protect the child’s life and health, leading to death. Additionally, a family doctor has been charged under Part 2 of Article 140 for professional negligence that caused severe consequences for a minor.

Notably, the boy’s mother had already faced legal action in August 2025 for neglecting her parental duties, but the court deemed the offense minor and closed the case. Prosecutor General Ruslan Kravchenko commented on the situation, stating:

The boy did not die from illness. He died from adult indifference. My position is clear: everyone who saw and remained silent, who knew and did nothing, who had authority and failed to use it-will be held accountable.

This case highlights serious shortcomings in the social protection and medical oversight systems for children with disabilities. The failures of both the mother and the social and medical professionals involved have sparked public outrage and calls for reforms in child protection policies. It is crucial that such incidents are not repeated, and that those responsible face consequences for their inaction.

The tragic case of the mother from Mohyliv-Podilskyi is not an isolated incident. Similar heart-wrenching stories, such as that of a father in the Poltava region who fatally harmed his young son out of jealousy, highlight the alarming prevalence of child abuse and neglect in Ukraine. To understand the broader implications of these cases and the societal factors contributing to such tragedies, read more about this disturbing incident here.