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.
Children’s games always reflect the surrounding reality. What they see on the news, hear from their parents, or discuss among themselves becomes part of their imagination and entertainment. From Cossack robbers to role-playing games in the war — social events are always reflected in the children’s world. Wartime in Ukraine was no exception. Teenagers live in a reality where war, mobilization and frontline news are daily topics that they take for granted. Therefore, it is not surprising that the new games they invent are sometimes disturbing and even dangerous in nature.
Society’s reaction
In January, an incident occurred in one of Kyiv’s schools that caused a stir in social networks. Students were playing TCC, and one of the students grabbed another by the neck during the game, almost breaking his nose. This story quickly spread on the network, causing a wave of discussions. Messages posted on social media suggested that parents should talk to their children about the dangers of such entertainment.
The situation created mixed reactions in society. Some parents were shocked by the fact that children resort to such games, while others recalled that in their childhood there were also similar entertainments — cowboys and Indians, «warriors», role-playing games that reflected the social events of their time. In the comments to the news, some users wrote that this is a completely expected consequence, because children play with what they see around them. At the same time, the situation shows that the problem is much deeper than just children’s games — it affects the psychological state of teenagers growing up in a war environment.
Police reaction
Kyiv police also reacted to the outcry on social networks, noting that they had not received official reports about this case. The Department of Juvenile Prevention said that they conduct constant monitoring of the situation in schools, check information about possible dangerous games and work on the prevention of similar cases. The main goal of law enforcement officers is to ensure the safety of children in educational institutions, as well as outreach work with students to prevent traumatic incidents.
The Juvenile Police of Kyiv regularly conducts preventive measures in schools of the capital to prevent dangerous behavior among teenagers. Police officers cooperate with teachers and social services in order to timely identify at-risk groups of children who may be prone to violent games or conflict behavior. An important aspect of this work is explaining to children what the consequences of their actions may be, as well as teaching methods of safe communication and conflict resolution without the use of physical force.
In addition, juvenile police officers of Kyiv actively monitor social networks to detect potentially dangerous videos or posts that may popularize violence among teenagers. If the law enforcement officers find alarming messages, they record them in the unified log of offenses and conduct further checks. This line of work has become especially important in the period of martial law, when children and teenagers spend more time on the Internet and can be exposed to destructive trends.
The police emphasize that the safety of children depends not only on law enforcement officers, but also on parents and teachers. It is the adults who should pay attention to the behavior of teenagers, explain to them the danger of aggressive games and teach them to take responsibility for their own health and the safety of others. Police officers together with teachers implement interactive methods of prevention — trainings, lectures, workshops, which help schoolchildren to realize responsibility for their actions.
Despite the fact that the specific case at the Kyiv school has not yet been officially confirmed, the topic of dangerous games among teenagers remains relevant. Children imitate the reality that surrounds them, and that is why it is important to form a safe information space for them, to respond in time to dangerous trends and to give them an understanding of how to act correctly in difficult situations.
