On Saturday, July 18, 2026, an incident involving an organized group of minors occurred in the city of Chernivtsi. A group of 70 children, aged 8 to 14, found themselves stranded at a gas station (GS). The children were returning to Kyiv from a summer camp in Bulgaria under the supervision of teachers. The forced stop was caused by a technical malfunction of the scheduled bus.
Circumstances of the Incident
According to preliminary data, the driver of the vehicle ordered the passengers to clear the cabin to fix the breakdown, promising to resume the trip within 30 minutes. However, instead of this, the bus left the gas station complex in an unknown direction. The personal belongings and luggage of the group remained inside the cabin and cargo compartments.
Group leaders state that the minors were left without warm clothing and essential supplies. The duration of the wait at the gas station at the time the incident was recorded exceeded 7–8 hours. The administration of the gas station restricted the group's presence inside the internal commercial and service halls, forcing the children and teachers to settle on the adjacent open parking area.
To ensure the basic needs of the minors for water and food, local volunteer organizations promptly arrived at the scene.
Law Enforcement Response
According to statements from the legal representatives of the victims and group leaders, the tour operator Sakums, which acted as the organizer of the transfer and vacation, did not get in touch for several hours to provide backup transport or coordinate accommodation. Official comments from the company's management have not been published to date.
To record the fact of improper fulfillment of contractual obligations, establish the location of the driver, and return citizens' property, a unit of the National Police of Ukraine was called to the gas station. Law enforcement agencies must provide a legal assessment of the carrier's actions within the framework of current legislation regulating the rules for the organized transport of groups of children by bus.
According to regional news agencies, by the end of the day, local services provided alternative transport to complete the route and evacuate passengers to Kyiv.
Legal Aspects
In accordance with the Law of Ukraine "On Tourism" and the rules for organized passenger transport, a tour operator bears full civil liability to tourists for non-performance or improper performance of contract terms, including ensuring safety and continuity of transfer, regardless of the involvement of third parties (carriers).
