Taught children to hate Ukraine: teacher from Kherson region sentenced to 15 years in prison

Larysa Soroka, a 63-year-old kindergarten teacher from Nova Zburyivka in the Holoprystan community of Skadovsk district in Kherson region, headed the Malyutka kindergarten illegally created by the occupiers and was engaged in fostering hatred of Ukraine and Ukrainians in children.

This was reported by the Center for Investigative Journalism with reference to the verdict of the Uzhhorod City District Court of Zakarpattia Oblast.

Thecourt found that Soroka, who worked as a teacher in a local preschool, voluntarily agreed to head the "Novozburiivka Kindergarten "Malyutka" illegally created by the occupiers. In August 2022, she began organizing the educational process according to Russian curricula, recruiting staff and children.

It was Larysa Soroka who was responsible for the illegal registration of the institution in the Russian jurisdiction. Her actions were classified as subversive activities against Ukraine, managing the educational process on the basis of glorification of the occupying country and fostering hatred of Ukraine and its historical and cultural values in children - high treason.

According to witnesses, the legal head of the Malyatko preschool refused to cooperate with the enemy, so the occupiers "appointed" Larysa Soroka instead. The traitor went around the villagers, introduced herself as the so-called director of the kindergarten and persuaded parents to send their children to this institution.

Larysa Soroka was sentenced to 15 years in prison with confiscation of property. The sentence has not yet entered into force.

According to the CHR, the woman's son, Oleksiy Soroka, also cooperates with the occupiers. He headed the state institution "Holoprystan Correctional Colony (No. 7)" seized by the occupiers and the occupation "Correctional Colony No. 1 of the Department of the Federal Penitentiary Service for the Kherson Region" illegally created on its basis. Last year, Oleksiy Soroka was notified of suspicion of violating the laws and customs of war over the deportation and forced transfer of more than 1700 people from penal institutions in Kherson region.

Олеся Ланцман