Дети войны

The Lukyaniv detention center in Kyiv has long had a dubious reputation, and recent investigations have only confirmed the worst suspicions about what is happening behind its walls. Corruption, torture, extortion and drug trafficking are the realities that prisoners face every day. The Hapuga.UA program recently published a stunning story that caused a violent reaction in society and forced law enforcement officers to intervene immediately. After the release of the material, the National Police and the General Prosecutor’s Office launched an investigation. On January 28, it appeared on the official website of the Prosecutor General’s Office information about the exposure of an organized group that organized large-scale drug trafficking to the pretrial detention center. At the same time, the police released a video of the searches, which confirmed the existence of a criminal scheme. According to the investigation, drug trafficking to Lukyanivskyi SIZO was organized by two brothers who were previously in this detention center themselves. They involved several more people in the criminal activity, among them was one of the prisoners and three freed citizens of Kyiv. They were responsible for delivering the drugs to the detention center, passing them over the fence. The obtained «goods» were sold to prisoners, and the received funds were partly used in the so-called «obschak» — a criminal fund from which the activities of the criminal world are financed. However, the drug business was not the only way this group made money. They also engaged in extortion, beatings and death threats. In order to force one of the prisoners to pay for a «quiet stay» within the walls of the detention center, he was brutally beaten and demanded two thousand US dollars. The victim was able to find only 80 thousand hryvnias, which he eventually handed over to the criminals. After the publication of the investigation and searches, the police conducted raids on the residence of the suspects, seized significant amounts of money, narcotics and draft records. All seven members of the group have been charged. Five of them, who were at large, were taken into custody without bail. According to Hapuga.UA, at least five people have been killed there since the start of the full-scale Russian invasion. One of the last known victims is Andrii Kyazimov, who was brutally beaten in a detention center. He died in hospital on New Year’s Eve, and his death caused a significant public outcry. Former People’s Deputy of Ukraine Ihor Mosiychuk asserts, who is well aware of the situation in Lukyanivskyi SIZO, because he visited it several times with inspections. He emphasizes that corruption and disorder in the institution have reached critical proportions, especially since the beginning of the full-scale war. No less disturbing facts confirms Andriy Didenko, expert of the Kharkiv Human Rights Protection Group. He notes that in such an institution as the pre-trial detention center, no event takes place without the knowledge of the management. The head of the detention center and his first deputy control all the processes that take place there, and without their consent, such criminal schemes simply could not exist. Human rights defender Eduard Bagirov also adds that Volodymyr Halavka, the current head of Lukyanivskyi SIZO, is not suitable for his position. He claims that the situation has only worsened under his leadership, and the head of the detention center is doing nothing to correct it. Halavka has a controversial reputation. Before being appointed to this position, he headed Sofiyiv correctional colony No. 45, which was called the «death colony». Under his leadership, violence, corruption and lawlessness reigned there. The colony was a place where seriously ill prisoners were sent, and where the administration profited from the drug and alcohol trade through inmate «supervisors». All these processes were coordinated by the colony leadership, and Volodymyr Halavka played a key role in this. «Among the tens of hundreds of pre-trial detention centers, the Kyiv pre-trial detention center can be called a VIP pre-trial detention center. The risk of corruption and the financial ability to solve any issues — yes, the Kyiv pre-trial detention center has more such opportunities. But this issue is managed by the administration headed by the chief. You will have to negotiate immediately: where the conditions are improved for the rich, torture is often the case for ordinary detainees. Reports of beatings and even death in Lukyanivskyi SIZO, unfortunately, are constantly coming in. In the Kyiv SIZO, so-called bystanders, sycophants, various people who cooperate with the administration beat people and demand money from them. And the administration knows about it.» – stated human rights defender Eduard Bagirov. «You can immediately be placed in very bad conditions, where there is no way of life. And then, let’s say, not to demand, but to push you to pay and go, we will transfer you to another cell, where the conditions are better. As far as I know, these chambers of destruction are specially kept, let’s say so, to extort funds», — says Oleg Tsvily, a member of the Public Council under the Ministry of Justice of Ukraine. Illegal «prison price lists» that recently appeared in the media also confirm the situation in Lukyanivskyi SIZO. According to these data, a quarter gram of methadone costs 1.5 thousand hryvnias there, although in reality there are no fixed prices. Depending on the inmate’s ability to pay, prices can vary, and if someone has no money, they can be given a «discount», but with the obligation to pay back the debt with interest. The public expects that the law enforcement officers will not stop only at searches and that the investigation will not end only with the arrest of minor perpetrators. Corruption and violence in Lukyanivskyi SIZO have long gone beyond ordinary prison crime. All these schemes can exist only because of impunity and support at the highest levels of management of the penitentiary system. It is important not to allow the publicity of this case to gradually fade away. Public activists and human rights defenders are already calling for a further investigation not only into the facts of drug trafficking, but also into corruption in the pre-trial detention center management. If this case is brought to an end, it may be the beginning of real changes in the penitentiary system of Ukraine, which has long been in need of radical reform. Society expects not just another high-profile search, but a real cleansing of the Lukyaniv Prison from corruption schemes, violence and drug trafficking. Time will tell whether this case will be a turning point, and we will continue to follow the development of events.

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The war changed many aspects of the life of Ukrainians, and the issue of demography is more pressing today than ever. Thousands of families have been separated by fighting, millions have fled abroad, and the birth rate continues to decline. But despite the difficult situation, programs of assisted reproductive technologies are being developed in Ukraine, which enable thousands of couples to become parents. For the first time, the state undertook the support of such initiatives, realizing that without it, the situation with demography will only worsen during and after the war. A unique twin in Lviv Twins were recently discharged from the Lviv Regional Perinatal Center in Lviv, who became the first children in Ukraine born thanks to the state program of assisted reproductive technologies. About it on the Facebook page reported Maksym Kozytskyi, head of Lviv OVA. The babies’ parents, Ihor and Iryna from Gorodka, Lviv district, were among the first to take advantage of this opportunity. Thanks to the professionals of the medical institution and the support of the state, their dream of becoming parents came true. This story is significant not only for the family, but also for the entire country, because these are the first results of a state initiative aimed at supporting fertility. Starting from March 2024, 250 couples have already taken advantage of this chance in the Lviv region alone. And this means that hundreds of children will be born, giving Ukraine a new future even in the most difficult times. Over the past ten years, the birth rate in Lviv Oblast has fallen by almost 40%. This is a critical indicator that directly affects the demographic future of the region. At the same time, even during the war, in 2024 more than 4,900 children were born in the Lviv Regional Perinatal Center, which is 6% more than in 2023. This is a small but very important increase, which demonstrates that despite the difficult circumstances, Ukrainians do not lose faith in the future and strive to create families. State support of reproductive technologies State support for reproductive technologies has become an important step in preserving the population of Ukraine. Many married couples who could not have children on their own lost the financial ability to undergo expensive treatment or IVF (in vitro fertilization) due to the war. Thanks to a government program, they get this chance for free. Experts emphasize that such initiatives have not only medical, but also strategic significance. Population loss through war, emigration, and low birth rates can have serious consequences for a country’s future. That is why the stimulation of fertility, support of families, development of reproductive technologies and access to them are not just social policy, but a matter of national security. Ukraine is facing a serious demographic challenge, and the war only exacerbates it. But the story of the twins, who were born in Lviv thanks to a state program, proves that even in the darkest times, life wins. A state that invests in fertility and supporting families has a future. And despite the war, Ukrainians prove that they want and will give birth to children in their country.

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In the conditions of a full-scale war, which touched every Ukrainian family, the most vulnerable categories of the population need special attention — children from low-income families and internally displaced persons (IDPs). Today, thousands of children find themselves in difficult life circumstances, often deprived of the most necessary: ​​warm clothes, adequate nutrition, access to education or medical services. In such conditions, every step aimed at improving their lives is of great importance. These problems are especially acute in the winter period, when costs for heating, warm clothes and basic needs increase. For many war-affected families, even these basic expenses become unaffordable. That is why the government of Ukraine continues to implement social programs aimed at supporting children, in particular, the «Warm Winter» initiative. «Warm Winter»: an initiative that gives hope Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal during the government meeting on January 21 announced about improving this program. According to him, families who were not included in the list of recipients last year for technical reasons will be able to receive payments this year. The amount of assistance is 6,500 hryvnias for each child. The program has already proven its effectiveness in 2024, when more than 590,000 Ukrainian children received one-time cash assistance. The funds were directed to meeting the most urgent needs: warm clothes, shoes, medicine, food. This allowed thousands of families to survive the difficult winter months with minimal comfort. Shmyhal noted that the introduced changes will avoid technical errors that prevented some families from using the program last year. Thanks to this innovation, more families will be able to provide their children with the essentials during the cold season. Key aspects of the program and its meaning One-time cash assistance in the amount of 6,500 hryvnias per child is not just financial support, but a real chance for many families to overcome difficult circumstances. The government has foreseen the use of these funds for priority needs, including warm clothes, winter shoes, hygiene products and medicines. It is worth noting separately the transparency and systematicity of the program. In 2024, more than 590,000 children received payments, which is an indicator of the effectiveness of this initiative. In the new format, the program will be available to even more low-income families and families of IDPs. The needs of children in wartime Children are the most vulnerable category of the population, which suffers the most from the consequences of war. Many of them have lost their homes, the ability to attend school, or access to health care. Families who have been forced to leave their homes often face financial difficulties and the inability to provide for the basic needs of their children. In addition, it is important to consider the psychological aspect. Constant stress and uncertainty affect the psycho-emotional state of children, and the lack of basic things, such as warm clothes or shoes, only worsens the situation. Providing financial assistance not only improves the financial situation of families, but also creates a feeling of support and care from the state. Despite the significant achievements of the «Warm Winter» program, there are also challenges. Above all, it is important to ensure that aid reaches every family that needs it. This requires improving procedures and minimizing technical errors. In addition, the state should continue to inform citizens about the possibilities of receiving assistance and ensure transparency in the use of funds. In the future, such programs can become the basis for creating larger initiatives aimed at supporting children in crisis situations. After all, by investing in children, the state invests in its future. In times of war, every gesture of support, every initiative aimed at helping children is critically important. The «Warm Winter» program demonstrates that even in conditions of limited resources, opportunities can be found to support the most vulnerable segments of the population. Providing warmth, clothing and basic needs for children from low-income families and families of IDPs is not only a social, but also a moral responsibility of the state. And as long as such programs exist, thousands of Ukrainian children still have a chance for a better life even in the darkest times.

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