Video: Mold, dirt, and violations were discovered at a children's camp in Pushcha-Vodytsia
The Ombudsman’s monitoring group uncovered numerous violations at a children’s camp in Pushcha-Vodytsia, Kyiv. During the inspection, the team found dirt, mold, inadequate food conditions, rotten fruit, and reports of staff consuming alcohol. Ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets has appealed to the Ministry of Social Policy for a response.
Following complaints from parents on social media, the monitoring group inspected the children’s camp in Pushcha-Vodytsia. During the inspection, they found inadequate living conditions, violations in the organization of meals, and problems with the arrangement of shelters. Ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets reported this.
“First, we visited the ‘Artek’ children’s camp in Zakarpattia. Now—in Pushcha-Vodytsia. I saw the parents’ outrage on social media and realized that intervention was needed here,” Lubinets noted.
According to him, the monitoring team worked on the camp grounds starting at 9:00 a.m. and documented numerous violations.
“The rooms are dirty, with broken furniture, mold, and mildew. There are bottles of alcohol in the staff’s utility rooms. Rotten fruit is in the kitchen. Daily food samples are not available for all dishes. There are ants everywhere—from the living quarters to the food preparation areas. The shelters are not properly equipped: sleeping areas are set up on pallets, bedding is dirty, and there is not enough drinking water,” the statement reads.
The ombudsman also noted that coffee machines have been installed on the camp grounds, which even young children can access.
“But what struck me most was something else. Under a post about ‘Artek,’ one mother wrote that she had taken her child out of the camp, and the child returned very thin. Comments from other parents began appearing under that post—this time about other children’s camps. And again—similar stories,” Lubinets said.
According to him, it is necessary to determine whether these are isolated incidents or a systemic problem in the organization of children’s recreation and health programs.
“Therefore, I demand a response from the Ministry of Social Policy, Family, and Unity of Ukraine,” the ombudsman stated.
Based on the monitoring results, Dmytro Lubinets sent official letters to the relevant authorities to obtain a specific assessment of whether the conditions at the facility meet the requirements of its designated category.
“Because a children’s camp isn’t just a place where parents send their children for vacation. It’s a place where the state must guarantee children’s safety, proper conditions, and respect for their rights. And if, instead, we see dirt, mold, inadequate shelter, and other violations—there must be changes and accountability. Children should not have to pay for someone else’s negligence with their health and safety,” Lubinets emphasized.
As a reminder, Lubinets is investigating the detention of a man from the Territorial Recruitment Center in Kamensk.
In the Odesa region, law enforcement officers detained the head of the district territorial center for conscription and social support in Dobroslav. At this time, there has been no official statement regarding the specific grounds for the detention. Details of the case are expected to be released after the initial investigative actions are completed.
Yevhen Shulga, an investigative journalist for hromadske who had been taken to the Kyiv City Territorial Center for Recruitment and Social Support the day before, has been released from the facility. According to media reports, he was handed a summons to appear before a military medical commission.
