In December 2024, in Kirovohrad region, the village elder discovered two minor children left unattended in a house — boys aged three and five.

The woman contacted the police and child protection authorities. 

During the inspection, it was established that for several days the boys had been without proper living conditions: there was no food, drinking water, or heating in the house. 

Prosecutors from the Holovanyivsk District Prosecutor's Office proved in court that the mother had consciously removed herself from fulfilling her parental duties and left her two sons unattended for six days. The father was not in the family: the woman was not married and lived alone with the children. 

The convicted woman was also under the supervision of social services, as she had previously been held administratively responsible and had abused alcohol. 

The court found the woman guilty under Part 1 of Article 135 and Article 166 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (deliberate abandonment without assistance and malicious non-fulfillment of parental duties) and imposed a sentence of 3 years of restriction of liberty.

In court, the prosecution insisted on a real punishment, as the mother's actions posed a direct threat to the life and health of the minors.

The woman was deprived of parental rights. Currently, the boys have been placed with other families where they are provided with proper living conditions, care, and upbringing.