A serious scandal is brewing in the Zakarpattia region surrounding the children's camp 'Artek Zakarpattia'. An official inspection, initiated by the Ombudsman for Children of the Verkhovna Rada, Dmytro Lyubynets, has confirmed the existence of critical violations that threaten the health and lives of minors.
At the time of the monitoring, 287 children from the front-line regions of Ukraine were present on the camp grounds. Signals regarding potential problems were received from parents via social media, prompting immediate intervention by the Ombudsman. Lyubynets' representative in the Zakarpattia region, Andriy Kryuchkov, personally inspected the facility and documented egregious facts.
Food Block and Unsanitary Conditions
One of the main points of inspection was the food block. The situation there proved to be critical: inspectors recorded the presence of flies and gross violations of food storage regulations. In the refrigeration equipment, rotten vegetables and fruits were stored mixed with fresh ones, creating a direct threat of mass poisoning.
Furthermore, the camp completely lacks a dietary menu. Children who require a special diet due to their health condition are forced to eat the general food, which is unacceptable from the standpoint of sanitary norms and ethics.
Living Conditions: Mold and Overcrowding
The condition of the residential buildings also does not meet safety and comfort standards. Rooms house up to 12 children, while furniture and bedding are in severe disrepair. The campers have no proper places to store personal belongings.
Mold and fungus were found on the walls of the living quarters, which is a serious risk factor for the development of allergies and respiratory diseases in children. Sanitary and living conditions also leave much to be desired: there are not enough shower cabins for everyone, and water supply is limited to certain hours. Privacy under such conditions is practically non-existent.
Threat to Life: Lack of Safe Shelters
The most alarming aspect of the inspection was the assessment of children's safety during air raids. The specialized shelter in the camp turned out to be damp, moldy, and not equipped with a sufficient number of seats.
Children told the inspectors that in the event of a siren, they are forced to stay in the building, using the so-called "two-wall rule".
"This is unacceptable! A child should not hide from a Russian missile behind two walls. There must be a safe shelter in a children's camp," Dmytro Lyubynets stated categorically, emphasizing that the current situation is a direct violation of the child's right to life and safety.
Demands to Authorities and Consequences
In addition to internal problems, the camp grounds lack continuous fencing, proper lighting, and a video surveillance system. Some sports and playgrounds are in a state of emergency, and the pool is non-operational.
The Ombudsman has sent official letters to the head of the Zakarpattia Regional Military Administration and the head of the Main Directorate of the National Social Service in the region. The documents raise the question of who exactly allowed the camp to operate under such conditions and demand the immediate accountability of the guilty officials.
Following the monitoring, a report with recommendations for eliminating violations will be prepared. Every identified fact will be given a legal assessment. The scandal around the camp has erupted against the backdrop of complaints from parents who published photos of hair in food, dirty towels, and damaged furniture.
