A 15-year-old student from a vocational school in Khmelnytskyi was admitted to intensive care following an assault by another student. Ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets has reached out to the Ministry of Education and Science, as well as the National Police, demanding an investigation into the circumstances of the incident.
According to Lubinets, his representative in the Khmelnytskyi region, Oksana Kizaeva, spoke with the school's director, who stated that the educational institution does not have its own dormitory and therefore relies on a contractual arrangement to use another dormitory where the incident occurred.
The ombudsman notes that it was the responsibility of the school staff to ensure compliance with norms, living rules, and discipline in the dormitory.
"It is known that staff duty in the dormitory is scheduled from 18:00 to 22:00. The beating of one student by another occurred around 23:00. The incident was reported to the school staff by another student. Following this, they arrived at the scene along with an ambulance and the police," Lubinets stated.
According to him, the victim is currently in the hospital, where his spleen was removed.
Lubinets has sent a request to the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine for an internal investigation into the negligence of the school staff, who failed to provide an adequate level of safety for the student. Additionally, he contacted the National Police to clarify the circumstances of the case and the National Social Service of Ukraine, asking them to take responsive measures.
What is known about the brutal beating of a student in Khmelnytskyi
According to the police, on October 2 around 23:00, a conflict arose between two students aged 17 and 15 in one of the dormitories in Khmelnytskyi, during which the older boy assaulted the younger one, resulting in injuries and hospitalization.
Law enforcement has initiated a criminal proceeding under Part 1 of Article 121 (Intentional serious bodily injury) of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. The police reported that all participants and witnesses of the conflict have been identified and questioned. Based on the results of the examinations, a decision will be made regarding the suspicion notification.
The victim's mother told local media that her son began having problems at the start of the school year. According to her, his funds quickly ran out. The boy confessed that a third-year student constantly attacked him, beat him, and regularly demanded money. Late in the evening on October 2, her son sent a message stating that he had been beaten and was being demanded to pay 200 hryvnias.
According to medical reports, the boy is in serious condition.
The victim's mother stated that the 17-year-old offender is an orphan. He is raised by foster parents. He regularly receives financial assistance from the state and has a scholarship.