On 1 November, the Lviv Regional Military Administration held a briefing in response to the allegations of
Dmytro Lubinets, the Verkhovna Rada Commissioner for Human Rights, who reported alleged violations in a children’s shelter run by the Lviv Regional Administration for Children’s Services.
At the briefing, Ivan Sobko, deputy head of the Luhansk Regional Police, and Volodymyr Lis, head of the Children’s Service, disagreed with the allegations, stressing the measures taken to ensure the rights of children in the shelter, especially in times of war.
“We cannot agree with the unfounded accusations regarding the activities of the orphanage,” said Ivan Sobko, “During the difficult war years, we made every effort to protect children, especially those deprived of parental care. Significant progress has been made in improving the conditions for children, repairing the premises and creating a comfortable environment for them to live in.”
Thanks to the support of LOVA Chairman Maksym Kozytskyi and the help of the IT cluster, NGOs and philanthropists, the orphanage has attracted more than UAH 4 million in extra-budgetary funds to carry out repairs and provide the necessary conditions. According to Sobko, the building needs periodic renovation, and any help in this process is always welcome.
The shelter was established in 1996 to provide temporary accommodation for children in difficult circumstances. Children stay in the facility for a maximum of 90 days, during which time social services are supposed to find the best possible solutions for them.
In response to Lubinets’s accusation that the children’s isolation facility is used as a punishment, Ivan Sobko explained: “The isolation room in the shelter serves to temporarily accommodate children with suspected infections to avoid infecting others. It is an ordinary room for a comfortable stay that provides the necessary conditions. Children are under constant medical supervision.”
Sobko also commented on the progress of the deinstitutionalisation reform, noting that the region is working to reduce the number of children in shelters. For example, in 2023, 47 children were returned to their families, and 11 were placed in foster care.
“As of today, we have not received an official report on the alleged violations. Only when we receive this report will we be able to thoroughly review and correct all the comments,” Sobko added.