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Following the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, a private humanitarian initiative led to the relocation of 510 orphaned Ukrainian children from institutions in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast to Türkiye.
The program, titled “Childhood Without War,” was funded by Ukrainian businessman Ruslan Shostak, whose foundation had previously been registered with a declared fortune of approximately $140 million.
According to investigative findings shared by a cross-border team of journalists, the children were placed in hotels and local child protection facilities across Türkiye, including Antalya. The aim stated publicly was to provide a safe environment away from frontline exposure.
The children were then reportedly accompanied by Ukrainian personnel responsible for day-to-day care and supervision. Coordination was conducted between the foundation and relevant Turkish institutions to meet basic needs such as accommodation, food, health, hygiene, psychosocial support, and education.
Eleven Ukrainian officials, however, later signed a report later noting alleged shortcomings in oversight and protection mechanisms during their stay. It was revealed that two teenage girls were impregnated while housed in a hotel facility and that psychological and sexual exploitation had taken place by the hotel staff in Antalya.
A joint investigative report from journalists in Türkiye and Ukraine indicated that in a March 2024 inspection involving officials from both countries, disturbing allegations emerged regarding severe neglect and abuse.
The legal process, on the other hand, reportedly did not proceed under charges of “child sexual abuse” but under the separate crime category of “sexual relations with a minor,” based on the determination that the girls were over the age of 15 at the time of the incidents.
Prosecutors closed the case on the grounds that the relationships were deemed consensual and that no formal complaint had been filed by the children.
Testimonies provided in the investigation suggest that Ukrainian staff allegedly encouraged children to sign statements asserting that their relationships with hotel personnel were consensual and advising them not to make negative remarks about institutional staff.
The Turkish prosecutors leading the case did not take formal statements directly from the girls before issuing the decision not to pursue charges.
The allegations and subsequent reporting drew a formal response from Türkiye’s Directorate of Communications Disinformation Combat Center (DMM).
The institution rejected claims circulating in the media that the state had failed to carry out its child protection responsibilities, labeling the negligence allegations as disinformation.
The DMM stated that children were placed in Türkiye with the full knowledge and direction of Ukrainian authorities and that daily oversight was conducted by Ukrainian supervisors, teachers, guardians, or relatives.
The communication emphasized that Türkiye facilitated infrastructure and coordination for safety, welfare, and psychosocial support while children remained under Ukrainian supervision.
According to the statement, Turkish authorities learned of the abuse accusations after the children returned to Ukraine.
Despite the absence of an official complaint, the Ministry of Family and Social Services proceeded to file a criminal complaint, triggering judicial proceedings.
The official response also highlighted that an earlier proposal to transfer the evacuated children into Türkiye’s national child protection institutions had been shared with Ukrainian partners but was not accepted.
Requests for comment were submitted to the Ukrainian Ombudsman’s office and multiple agencies involved in child social protection, but officials did not provide clarification on the aftermath of the joint monitoring visit.
In a short exchange, the head of the Dnipropetrovsk regional service for children’s affairs stated that her office referred the matter to law enforcement, which she described as conducting a “lengthy” investigation. She added that “everyone who was guilty was punished,” citing job dismissals among the consequences.
However, responses provided to a member of Ukraine’s parliament indicate a different legal conclusion. Ukrainian police and prosecutors confirmed that an investigation had been launched based on the Ombudsman’s report, but it was ultimately closed on the grounds that the findings did not amount to a criminal offense under domestic law, according to Slidstvo. A subsequent appeal was rejected, effectively ending proceedings.
The individuals alleged to have committed the abuse are not subject to legal penalties and remain free in Türkiye, even though the crime is proven based on the evidence presented to the media by children who have been abused.
While the incidents took place under the supervision of Ukrainian personnel assigned to care for the children, Turkish authorities became formally aware only after the children had returned to Ukraine, prompting a long-delayed judicial response.
With the story back in the headlines and public attention squarely focused on the issue, the investigation is expected to be pursued vigorously, regardless of jurisdiction or obstacle.
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