Ukraine launches investigation into alleged sexual abuse at children's home

Ukraine on Saturday announced a probe into alleged sex crimes at a state children's home after the country's rights ombudsman visited and decried a lack of official action.

Ukraine has more than 51,000 children living in residential care, of whom 78 percent have disabilities, according to a report this month by UNICEF.

Since Moscow's invasion in 2022, thousands of children in care have been evacuated to Russia.

The case concerns a state home in the western Lviv region housing 57 children with special educational needs and disabilities, five of whom reported abuse, Iryna Suslova, a representative of the Ombudsman for Children's Rights, told AFP.

Prosecutors said Saturday they had opened a probe over suspected sexual violence against minors at the centre, punishable by up to seven years in jail.

Ukrainian parliamentary commissioner for human rights Dmytro Lubinets wrote on Telegram that he contacted police and prosecutors after visiting with social services officials and psychologists.

"We recorded children's testimonies that the director of the facility had sexually assaulted female residents, publicly humiliated them, and threatened to beat them and place them in a psychiatric hospital," Lubinets said.

"Shockingly, over the past six months, children and others on their behalf have filed complaints with the National Police, the local children's service and the department of education, but have received no response," he added.

All the children who testified have been moved from the institution and are safe, Lubinets said.

Police denied lack of action, saying this year they had received no other reports of wrongdoing at the institution.