Seven Children Removed from Home in Lviv Region Following Infant's Tuberculosis Diagnosis and Toddler's Scalding.

Large Family in Lviv Region Has Seven Children Taken into State Care

According to TSN.ua: Social services in Ukraine's Lviv region have taken seven children from a large family into emergency care after discovering critical threats to their welfare. The youngest child, a six-month-old infant, was diagnosed with tuberculosis, while his two-year-old brother suffered severe scalds from boiling water. This intervention followed a year of monitoring by child protection authorities, who had previously placed the family on a watchlist due to concerning living conditions.

The children's condition raised immediate alarm. According to pediatric surgeon Larisa Shevchenko, the two-year-old boy was in a state of moderate severity with pronounced pain and swelling. His parents delayed seeking medical help for a full day after the injury occurred. Social workers and prosecutors found the family's living situation wholly inadequate. The entire family—a father, mother, and their seven children—were all living in a single room. Marta Smikhura-Skalska, head of the Zhovkva District Prosecutor's Office, described the conditions as appalling.

Parental Response and Ongoing Concerns

The father, Ivan Budzan, expressed his distress over the situation:

"This is the first time we've ended up in the hospital. Around four in the morning, the child stopped eating. Before that, he felt perfectly fine." - Ivan Budzan

He explained the accident that led to his son's scalding: "The oldest was making himself a cappuccino, put it on the bedside table after pouring the boiling water. The little one took a step forward, knocked the lid, and spilled it on himself."

Natalia Klymko, head of the local child services, stated the removal decision was based on the substandard housing and the children's injuries. She emphasized the father's inability to cope alone, noting, "The mother was at the hospital with the tiny baby. The father couldn't manage everyone, and the child got scalded. Then the next one ended up in the hospital."

The older children are now in a shelter. Ivan Budzan insisted that no one considers him a bad father and claimed he plans to improve their home:

"Workers are coming soon. We will plaster, paint, change the doors, and the furniture." - Ivan Budzan

Social services last visited the family in December, and the case remained under official supervision. In Ukraine, as in many countries, child protection services face difficult decisions balancing family preservation with immediate safety risks. This case highlights the severe challenges some large, low-income families confront, where removal is a last resort taken only when children's health is in demonstrable danger. Authorities continue to monitor the situation to ensure the children's well-being.