Bullying of children during the war: in 2024, the police recorded 219 cases, the leading region was identified

Children always remain the most vulnerable category in society, especially during war. In Ukraine, which has been living in a full-scale war for almost three years, thousands of children are forced to adapt to new realities: evacuations, loss of relatives, constant stress due to shelling. In these difficult circumstances, school bullying adds even more pain. Non-acceptance of IDPs in the team, bullying and ridicule can cause irreparable damage to a child’s psyche. Unfortunately, bullying remains a significant problem in the educational environment of Ukraine.

Bullying statistics in 2024

For data open data service Opendatabot, in the first 10 months of 2024, the police made 219 protocols regarding bullying in educational institutions. Although this figure is smaller compared to the pre-war years, experts emphasize that the real number of cases is much higher. Many children who suffer from bullying either do not seek help or do not receive adequate support from adults.

According to a study by the Ukrainian Institute for the Study of Extremism, bullying can have tragic consequences: about 40% of child suicides occur precisely because of bullying.

Offense profile

The majority of bullying cases recorded in 2024 were committed by children and teenagers.

• 124 protocols (or 56.6%) concerned adolescents aged 14 to 16 years.
• At least 37 incidents of bullying were perpetrated by groups of children or repeatedly.
• The role of adults in this situation attracts special attention: 12 protocols were drawn up against teachers who knew about bullying, but did not report it to the relevant authorities.

Courts have become more effective in dealing with cases related to bullying: 73% of reports received court decisions, while in previous years this figure was only 60%.

Geography of bullying

At the end of October, a special button for submitting complaints about bullying was launched in Ukraine. During this period, 85 anonymous messages have already been received. According to the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine, the majority of appeals – 80% – come from parents, while only 20% of reports are submitted by children themselves. This tool has already been used in 16 regions of the country.

The leader in terms of the number of officially recorded cases of harassment was Kyiv and the Kyiv region – 36 cases were registered here. Odesa Oblast is in second place with nine cases, and Lviv Oblast is third with eight.

Despite the fact that these regions differ in the level of urbanization and socio-economic situation, the common feature remains that the problem of bullying affects both large cities and small settlements.

What to do if a child is a victim of bullying

In the conditions of war, it is extremely important to create a safe educational environment for children. Experts emphasize the need for comprehensive approaches to combat bullying: psychological support for victims, awareness raising among children and adults, as well as increased responsibility for those who commit or ignore cases of bullying.

Bullying not only destroys children’s psyche, but also reflects the general problems of society. In the conditions of war, this phenomenon becomes even more painful, because children who already live under constant stress need support, not additional injuries.

Photo: opendatabot.ua

We would like to remind you that currently punishment for bullying includes fines in the amount of 850 to 3400 hryvnias. Education Ombudsman of Ukraine, Nadiya Leshchyk, believes that increasing fines to 10,000 hryvnias could make them a more effective tool in the fight against bullying in schools.

The legislation provides for administrative responsibility for bullying for persons who have reached the age of 16. In the case of younger offenders, parents are responsible for their actions.

In addition, school principals who cover up cases of bullying may also be punished. They face fines or remedial work, with a deduction of up to 20% of wages.

Resisting this challenge is a joint task of educators, parents, law enforcement officers and civil society.