Legal Action in Odessa: Father Accused of Child Abuse
A 27-year-old man in Odessa is facing trial for repeatedly assaulting his children – a two-month-old daughter and a two-year-old son.
He inflicted injuries of varying severity on them. He faces the possibility of imprisonment for his actions.
This was reported by the Main Directorate of the National Police in the Odessa region.
The incident occurred in October 2024. Authorities found that for two months, the father had regularly hit his daughter when she cried, attempting to "calm" her in this manner.
When the child's condition worsened, her 24-year-old mother called for emergency assistance, stating that she was afraid to intervene with her husband.
The girl was hospitalized in the intensive care unit of the Odessa regional children's clinical hospital with head and body injuries.
"This civil couple had never been known to the police or child services before. In addition to their daughter, they have a two-year-old son, who, according to preliminary information, was also abused by the father. Doctors are examining the boy, who is preliminarily diagnosed with a closed femoral fracture," the police of Odessa reported at the time.
A forensic examination established that the children sustained injuries of varying severity. The boy was diagnosed with a closed femur fracture, while his sister suffered multiple bruises, closed rib fractures, and contusions to the lungs and brain, leading to swelling and coma.
The children have been removed from the family and are now in a state-run child care facility.
The 27-year-old man has been charged under part 1 of Article 121 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (intentional infliction of serious bodily harm to a child).
Investigators have also opened another case under part 1 of Article 122 of the Criminal Code regarding the infliction of medium severity injuries to the boy.
The suspect has been remanded in custody without the right to bail.
The indictment against the man has been sent to court, and he remains in custody. He faces up to eight years in prison for his actions.
Additionally, law enforcement has separated materials regarding the parents under Article 166 of the Criminal Code (gross violation of duties of care for a child). The penalty for this article includes imprisonment of up to five years.
Previously, we reported on a case in Prykarpattia where a woman was tried for throwing her newborn child into a well.