Foster Mother Faces 15-Year Sentence for Torturing Children in Kyiv Region Orphanage.

Widespread Child Abuse Scheme Uncovered

According to TSN.ua: Authorities in the Kyiv region have uncovered a large-scale scheme of child abuse at a family-type orphanage. A foster mother has been formally notified of suspicion for torturing and exploiting five underage children in her care. The alleged crimes took place between 2023 and 2024, and the suspect now faces up to 15 years of imprisonment. This case highlights ongoing challenges in safeguarding vulnerable children within Ukraine's care system.

Children Endured Harsh Living Conditions

According to law enforcement reports, the children were subjected to persistent physical and psychological abuse. The victims were also systematically deprived of their basic needs:

• They were denied adequate food;
• They were denied sufficient water;
• They were denied access to education;
• They were denied medical care.

Furthermore, the children were forced to perform hard labor and were illegally confined in locked spaces, effectively being deprived of their liberty.

The Prosecutor's Office is conducting inspections of officials responsible for overseeing the orphanage's operations. These inspections were launched on December 12, 2025. As part of this nationwide campaign, over 1,000 childcare institutions have been reviewed, and the living conditions of more than 26,000 children have been analyzed.

"Accountability will extend not only to those who directly committed the crimes, but also to the officials who failed to act for a prolonged period despite the ongoing torture of children." - Prosecutor Dmytro Prokudin

This situation underscores the critical need for stringent oversight of childcare institutions and for holding officials accountable when they neglect their duty to protect children's rights. Exposing crimes of this nature could serve as a catalyst for reforming Ukraine's child social protection system to prevent similar atrocities in the future.