A 13-year-old schoolboy suddenly died during a physical education class at a high school in Poltava region.
At a time when children’s everyday lives are mixed with air strikes, evacuations and disturbing news, the health and safety of school children is a matter of survival. Children suffer not only from the direct consequences of hostilities — injuries or losses in the family. War affects them everywhere: through disruption of sleep patterns, changes in the learning environment, loss of stability, lack of recovery from illness, and psychological exhaustion. In this instability, even those who appear to be physically strong and active become especially vulnerable. On May 5, a 13-year-old student, Stanislav Korgun, died suddenly during a physical education lesson at Lyceum No. 6 in the city of Pyryatyn, Poltava Oblast. The boy was an athlete, regularly engaged in boxing, showed high results, studied well, was open and active. But his life ended instantly – after a regular school run.
What happened at Pyryatyn Lyceum No. 6
Tragedy happened during a physical education class. Together with the class, Stanislav performed a running exercise – two laps of 500 meters. After running, the boy sat down, and then suddenly lost consciousness.
Lyceum director Mykola Vasylenko said that immediately after the fall, teachers and a school medical worker rushed to the child. They tried to resuscitate Stanislav – performed artificial lung ventilation, indirect heart massage, used a cardiograph. But the heart no longer showed any signs of activity. “Ambulance” arrived in five minutes, but it was not possible to save the boy.
“Seventh-grade students came running and reported that their classmate was sick. The student was in an unconscious state, heart activity and breathing were absent. He did not react to any stimuli. Artificial lung ventilation, indirect heart massage were performed. A cardiograph was used, which showed that there was no cardiac activity.” — said school medic Oleksandr Vorobey.
What is known about Stanislav Korgun
The boy was born on March 3, 2012. According to the school director, he was actively involved in sports, was disciplined, purposeful and repeatedly demonstrated serious results at competitions. Shortly before the tragedy, Stanislav took second place in a boxing tournament. He trained three times a week, ran a lot. He was often seen at the stadium – he trained hard, did not complain about his health.
However, in February 2025, the boy suffered from acute respiratory diseases twice, and in the summer of 2024, he had a fracture of the ankle joint. That is why the medical examination, which he underwent on August 20, 2024, assigned him the second preparatory group – not because of cardiological indicators, but in view of the rehabilitation of the joint.
“He was assigned a second preparatory health group, but due to the fact that he had a fracture of the ankle joint in the summer. And to restore the joint, he was given a preparatory group. I think that he took more than one certificate for the competition.” – commented the school doctor.
How the teachers remembered him
The boy’s death came as a shock to the entire school. His class teacher remembers Stanislav as the soul of the class: open, attentive, talented. His classmates respected him, he had authority, and his opinion was listened to. He studied at a sufficient level, but his potential was much greater. Teachers have repeatedly emphasized his ability to lead, support, and help.
“He’s a pretty smart kid, a talented kid. He was the soul of the company, the soul of our class. He was responsive, always ready to help. He was an athlete. We were proud of him in the class. He studied at a sufficient level, but his opportunities were even better. He was sincerely loved in the class. He was a boy that girls fell in love with. This tragedy affected them quite strongly. The boys also respected him and listened to his opinion. The boy’s family is quite good. Mom is so communicative, always supported her son in all his endeavors. Dad is a military man, dad is fighting.” said the class teacher.
The teacher of Ukrainian language and literature Tetyana Mytropan mentioned that a few days ago Stanislav wrote an essay on the topic “What makes a person happy?”. His words sound especially painful today:
“Quite often I think about what makes a person truly happy. And I understand that everyone’s happiness is different. Happiness is not something big and not something far away. It is here and now. It is near, in love. It is only worth seeing, noticing and appreciating. To be able to enjoy the simple things that fill life.”
Legal response: criminal proceedings have been opened
Criminal proceedings have been opened in connection with the death of the child. The case is being investigated under the second clause of the second part of Article 115 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, which is an article on intentional murder, but with the note “marked as an accident”. The police, under the procedural guidance of the prosecutor’s office, are investigating all the circumstances.
“According to this fact, police investigators under the procedural leadership of the Pyryatyn Department of the Lubensk District Prosecutor’s Office opened criminal proceedings on the qualified grounds of the second part of the second article of Article 115 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. Investigators are currently investigating all the circumstances and causes of the tragedy.” – said the police spokeswoman.
The war affects everyone, but it affects the health and psyche of children especially subtly and painfully. They not only lose their usual environment, but also live in a state of constant stress: physical, emotional, social. Bodies are still growing, hearts are not yet accustomed to the rhythm of the adult world. And even those who seem strong, hardy, athletic are not immune to invisible influences.
