School bullying surges 55% as ombudsman declares protection system a failure.

Sharp rise in bullying and mobbing cases across Ukraine

According to Espreso.tv: Ukraine recorded a significant increase in bullying among school students and mobbing among teachers in 2025. Ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets says the current protection system is not functioning as intended. His office received 191 reports of bullying in 2025, representing a 55% jump compared to 2024. During the first five months of this year alone, 122 complaints on similar matters were filed.

Criminal cases and teacher complaints on the rise

On the criminal front, authorities opened 12 criminal proceedings related to bullying in 2025. This underscores the severity of the situation and the urgent need for action. Additionally, 29 teachers approached the ombudsman this year over workplace harassment, with 13 more educator complaints coming in since January.

“The growing number of complaints directly proves that the protection system is failing to do its job,” said Dmytro Lubinets.

He further warned that the true scope of the problem is likely much larger, and the state still lacks a clear picture of it. Currently, Ukraine’s Ministry of Education and Science does not maintain a centralized record of bullying incidents in schools, making oversight nearly impossible. Lubinets is calling for the creation of a dedicated authority that would effectively monitor and respond to bullying cases.

The rise in bullying and mobbing highlights deep systemic flaws in Ukraine’s education sector, where poor data collection and weak enforcement hinder progress. Without effective action against violence, the psychological well-being and safety of students and staff remain at risk. Establishing a specialized body to oversee bullying prevention and response could be a critical step toward reversing this troubling trend.