Cruelty without borders: teenagers from Bila Tserkva turned the bullying of a displaced girl into a crime (video)
Alarming news about acts of cruelty among teenagers are appearing more and more frequently in Ukraine. These cases gain special publicity when their participants are children, who should be the most vulnerable and sensitive to other people’s pain. The war changed many, but not all. Along with those who grew up to be extremely empathetic, there are those who turned into a source of aggression. Of particular concern is the fact that similar cases are increasingly being committed against children from among internally displaced persons, who have already experienced significant upheavals.
Abuse of a girl
The events that took place in Bila Tserkva, Kyiv region, stunned the public with their cruelty and cynicism. As reported On January 20, the press service of the Juvenile Police of Ukraine, a group of teenagers lured a 12-year-old girl to the park, where instead of friendly communication, they started real bullying. The law enforcement officers found that the girl was injured by three minors: a girl the same age as the victim, a 15-year-old boy, and a 16-year-old boy. During the inspection, a video recording this incident was found. This is not the first time that violence among children attracts attention, but each such incident causes a special resonance because it shows deep problems in the upbringing and socialization of teenagers.
According to acquaintances, the injured girl is an immigrant who has already experienced difficult life circumstances. Instead of support or understanding, she became a victim of her peers, who first humiliated her with words, threw used chewing gum, and then turned to physical abuse. One of the attackers sprayed a substance similar to a gas can in her face, while the others accompanied their actions with abusive words.
In the video, which became available to law enforcement officers, teenagers can be heard mocking: “The holiday is coming.” After that, one of them begins to recite the “Our Father” prayer, and immediately after that, the girl is attacked again – sprayed with gas and hit on the head. The cynicism of their actions reached its peak when they began to threaten the girl, declaring: “We will bury her in a puddle.” In addition, they demanded 15 thousand hryvnias from her, setting a deadline for the fulfillment of this demand.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7lpMU5tKpeM&ab_channel=%D0%A2%D0%B5%D0%BB%D0%B5%D0%BA%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%B0%D0%BB%D0%9A%D0%BE%D0%BD%D0%BA%D1%83%D1%80%D0%B5%D0%BD%D1%82TV-%D0%BD%D0%BE%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%BD%D0%B8%D0%9B%D1%83%D1%86%D1%8C%D0%BA%D0%B0%D1%82%D0%B0%D0%92%D0%BE%D0%BB%D0%B8%D0%BD%D1%96
Reaction of law enforcement officers
Law enforcement officers quickly responded to the appeal of the victim’s mother. A 16-year-old boy, who is believed to be the organizer, was charged with torture and extortion during martial law. He faces up to 12 years in prison. The investigation continues with respect to other participants. At the same time, the reaction of the father of one of the attackers is alarming. Instead of showing remorse, he said he needed to prove his child’s guilt and threatened to hire a lawyer.
“Investigation officers of the Belotserki police department of the Kyiv Region have started a pre-trial investigation under Part 1 of Article 125 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (intentional slight bodily harm). After the completion of the investigation, the police will provide a legal assessment of the actions of each of the participants in the conflict.
We call on parents: to monitor the behavior of children, to emphasize the importance of observing legal and moral standards.
The Juvenile Police of Ukraine emphasizes the inadmissibility of violence and calls for peaceful resolution of conflicts.
If you witness violence or a similar situation, call the police on 102“, the police informed.
This situation makes us think about what causes such cruelty among teenagers and why parents support them in this. War, economic instability, lack of proper adult supervision, and a culture of violence promoted by social media all create a toxic environment in which aggression seems to be an acceptable form of communication. It is particularly alarming that such cases often concern internally displaced children who have already experienced the loss of a home, loved ones or familiar environment.
It is worth noting that this event became not only a criminal offense, but also a moral challenge for society. How can we prevent similar incidents in the future? Is it enough to punish the guilty, or do we need to start with deep changes in the approach to raising and supporting children?
This story should be a lesson for everyone. It is not only about a specific crime, but about what happens when society closes its eyes to the problems of teenagers, their psychological injuries and the need for help. If we don’t act now, we risk a generation for which violence will become the norm.
