–>
Oleksandr Kalinchuk — a pediatric surgeon and oncologist, medical director of St. Nicholas Children’s Hospital in Lviv — published an emotional Facebook post addressed to parents who buy scooters, motorcycles, and e-scooters for their underage children. “You are not good ‘mom and dad.’ You are potential killers of your own children,” writes the doctor, who has been saving children’s lives for over 20 years at the largest hospital in the Lviv region.
202 children died on Ukraine’s roads in 2025
Before emotions — let’s talk numbers. And the numbers are terrifying.
According to official data from Ukraine’s Patrol Police Department and Ukravtoprom, 202 children died in traffic accidents in 2025 — 12.2% more than in 2024 (when 180 children died). Another 5,324 children were injured (up 1.9%). A total of 4,655 accidents involving children were recorded.
Sources: skilky-skilky.info; Varta1 / Ukravtoprom
Separately alarming: 949 accidents were caused by the children themselves — up 11.8% from 2024. In these crashes, 46 children died and 1,155 were injured.
In the first seven months of 2025 alone, 2,531 accidents involving children with fatalities or injuries were recorded — 91 children killed, 2,904 injured. A significant portion involved teenagers riding motorcycles, mopeds, scooters, and e-scooters without licenses and helmets.
Source: Telegraf — Patrol Police Department response
Now — a word from the Lviv surgeon who collects these children off the pavement
Oleksandr Kalinchuk is a surgeon with over 20 years of experience, a candidate of medical sciences, and medical director of St. Nicholas Children’s Hospital — one of the largest pediatric facilities in Western Ukraine, part of the First Medical Association of Lviv. He specializes in pediatric surgery, laparoscopy, robotic surgery, pediatric oncology, and ultrasound diagnostics. He has over 100 scientific publications and 2 patents. He graduated from Vinnytsia National Medical University (2001) and trained in Poland (Katowice).
“When your child flies out at an intersection on the very gift you gave them — it is your fault. Entirely. Because you bought this toy for a minor who does not yet understand how the world works.”
— Oleksandr Kalinchuk, Pediatric Surgeon, St. Nicholas Children’s Hospital, Lviv
The doctor asks: how often have you seen a teenager wearing a helmet while riding on our roads? And answers bluntly: they brake with their face, arms, legs, back, stomach, and chest against the pavement. Sometimes doctors manage to collect their intestines, lungs, brains, and bones from the road. Sometimes — they don’t.
Motorcycle statistics: 2025 — the worst year in five
- 4,503 motorcycle/moped accidents (up 4% from 2024)
- 438 killed (up 11%)
- 4,971 injured
- Fatality rate per 1M population: from 8 (2021) to 14 (2025) — up 83%
- 75% of deaths caused by head injuries
- Add 845 e-scooter accidents (19 killed, 912 injured)
Sources: NGO “Life” / National Police; Telegraf / Patrol Police
What does Ukrainian law say?
- Moped/scooter (up to 50cc / 4kW): Category A1 license, from age 16, with parental consent for minors
- Motorcycle (over 50cc): Category A license, also from age 16
- E-scooter (up to 3kW): No license required, recommended from age 14, helmet mandatory for children
- Fines: 340–850 UAH for traffic violations; 3,400–40,800 UAH for riding without a license; up to 17,000 UAH and 2 years imprisonment for severe accidents
WHO data on helmets
- A certified helmet reduces fatal risk 6 times
- Reduces traumatic brain injury risk by 74%
- Look for ECE 22.06 certification — decorative helmets provide only an illusion of safety
7 tips for parents
- Don’t buy motor vehicles for children under 16.
- Invest in a certified ECE 22.06 helmet.
- Full protective gear: helmet, gloves, knee/elbow pads, jacket.
- Enroll your child in driving school (training starts at 14).
- Talk about real consequences. Show statistics.
- Monitor routes with GPS — that’s responsibility, not surveillance.
- Lead by example. Wear a helmet yourself.
Questions every parent must ask
- Are you ready to see your child on an operating table because you didn’t buy a helmet?
- Does your teenager know traffic rules?
- Is that helmet actually certified, or just plastic?
- Why does your child want a scooter — real need or peer pressure?
- If the worst happens — can you honestly say you did everything possible?
Dr. Kalinchuk ends his post: “And your children are not immortal…”
He knows what he’s talking about. He sees it every day at the largest children’s hospital in the Lviv region. The question is — will parents listen?