Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Coach Faces Trial for Raping Two 11-Year-Old Students

Trial Underway in Kyiv

According to Главком: A 37-year-old Brazilian jiu-jitsu instructor is currently on trial in Kyiv, accused of sexually assaulting two of his students, both 11 years old at the time of the crimes. The offenses are alleged to have taken place starting in 2017. The suspect remains in custody, and the case file has been submitted to the court for proceedings.

The accused is originally from Zaporizhzhia. Investigators have confirmed that one of the victims also comes from that city. After the case gained public attention, another former student of the coach recognized the victim and came forward. She shared her own experience of being assaulted at age 11 while living abroad.

“He committed his first crimes back in 2017. For eight years, he remained unpunished,” said Ruslan Kravchenko, the prosecutor handling the case.

How the Crimes Were Uncovered

The abuse was exposed through footage from a hidden camera, which became a critical piece of evidence in the pre-trial investigation-now concluded. The defendant faces the following charges:

• Part 6 of Article 152 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, which penalizes the rape of a person under 14 years of age;
• Part 2 of Article 156 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine for committing lewd acts against a minor.

If found guilty, the coach could receive a life sentence.

This case is not isolated in Ukraine. For instance, in the Vinnytsia region, a 38-year-old father was remanded in custody for raping his 17-year-old daughter. In Odesa, a 74-year-old man was sentenced to 15 years in prison for sexually abusing 13 boys. The investigation into that Odesa case took four and a half years, highlighting the severity and scale of such crimes within society.

These incidents underscore the urgent need for stronger protections for children against sexual violence and for improving Ukraine's legal safeguards. The rising number of similar offenses has sparked public concern and demands that law enforcement agencies work more effectively to prevent such acts. Cases like this one also emphasize the importance of societal awareness regarding child abuse and the necessity of supporting survivors.

This troubling case reflects a broader issue of child abuse in Ukraine. Similar incidents highlight the urgent need for systemic changes to protect minors. For instance, in the Vinnytsia region, a father was recently arrested for assaulting his own daughter, illustrating the pervasive nature of such crimes. To learn more about this alarming situation, read about the arrest of a father in Vinnytsia.