International Arrest Warrant Issued for Director of Benfica Soccer Academy After 10-Year-Old Boy’s Death.

Tragedy at a Summer Soccer Camp

According to Novyny.live: Ukraine’s Benfica Soccer Academy director, Maria Kryvopishyna, has been placed on an international wanted list as part of the investigation into the death of 10-year-old Ivan Honcharuk. The boy drowned in a lake on the grounds of the Olympic Village complex in August 2023 while attending a camp organized by the academy. The facility is located in Ukraine, and the incident has drawn widespread attention to safety lapses during youth activities.

At the time of the tragedy, a group of children was near the water without adequate supervision, raising serious concerns about the camp’s safety protocols. As the investigation unfolded, a camp coach was formally notified of suspicion under a charge of abandonment leading to the death of a minor. The Kyiv Court of Appeals upheld a pretrial detention order for Kryvopishyna, who remains at large.

Mother of the Victim Speaks Out

In a statement, Svitlana Honcharuk, the boy’s mother, emphasized: 'This step is crucial for ensuring that all individuals investigators believe were involved in this tragedy are held accountable.'

Interpol is now actively searching for Kryvopishyna in connection with the case.

The incident underscores the critical need for rigorous safety standards in children’s camps and organized activities. The lack of proper oversight has not only cast a harsh light on the camp’s organizers but also prompted broader questions about the regulatory framework for such programs in Ukraine. The ongoing investigation could have significant repercussions for the country’s entire youth recreation sector.