Bullying in School: What Has Changed in 2026 and How Schools Should Respond Now

In 2026, Ukraine updated its rules for responding to bullying and violence in educational institutions. The rules now more clearly define how schools should respond after receiving a report, when to involve the police and other agencies, and who officially determines whether bullying has occurred.

What Has Changed in the Approach to Combating Bullying

As of August 11, 2026, updated rules for responding to bullying in educational institutions are in effect in Ukraine. The Ministry of Education and Science has published a new version of the Procedure for Responding to Cases of Bullying and the Procedure for Applying Disciplinary Measures, which were approved in late 2019. The changes are related to updates to legislation on the protection of children from violence and abuse.

The main change in approach is that bullying is now considered one of the manifestations of violence within the broader child protection system. Therefore, the updated procedures address not only cases that already exhibit signs of systematic bullying but also responses to reports of potential violence and the risk of its recurrence.

The rules also clarify one of the key characteristics of bullying—systematicity. Violence is considered systematic if it has occurred two or more times within 12 months from the date of the first incident or from the date the report was filed. Therefore, a single incident of violence does not in itself constitute bullying, but this does not mean that the school can ignore it.

What the School Must Do After Receiving a Report of Bullying

The school must accept reports of a possible incident of bullying, regardless of whether they are submitted in writing, verbally, or anonymously. The school must provide various channels for such reports—in-person, by phone, via email, or through a designated suggestion box. If the school’s principal is suspected of the abuse, the report should be directed to the school’s founder or the governing body to which the school is accountable.

The school must register every report received on the day it is received. If it is received on a weekend, a holiday, or outside of business hours, it must be registered on the next business day. After registration, the school principal must review the report within 24 hours and determine whether the described situation contains signs of abuse.

If such signs are identified, the school must first and foremost stop the violence and take measures to prevent it from recurring. The principal must also notify the parents of the affected child, unless the violence was committed by the parents themselves. If necessary, the child must be provided with first aid or an ambulance must be called. These urgent actions must be taken no later than three hours after signs of violence are detected.

If, however, no signs of abuse were identified during the initial assessment, the school’s response does not end there. The information in the report must be analyzed for the risk of abuse, and measures must be taken to prevent it in the future.

When the school convenes a committee and what it does

The school must have a standing committee to review cases of violence and/or child abuse. Its membership is determined by the school principal in consultation with the child welfare service. For schools in Odesa, this is the Odesa City Council’s Child Welfare Service. If, after receiving a report, signs of violence are identified, the principal must convene a committee meeting no later than three business days from the date the report was received.

The commission must consist of at least five members. It includes school staff—specifically, teaching staff, a clinical psychologist, and a social educator—as well as representatives of the child welfare service and an institution or organization that officially provides social services. A representative of the authorized police unit may serve on the commission with their consent. An important safeguard for impartiality: a school employee who is the subject of a report of violence may not serve as a member of the commission during the review of that case.

The commission gathers and analyzes information about the circumstances of the incident, including statements from those involved and their parents, and assesses the need of the affected child and other involved parties for psychological, social, or educational support. It also determines the necessary support and educational measures, the deadlines for their implementation, and those responsible for them, and subsequently monitors whether these measures have been effective. Measures aimed at reconciling the affected child with the perpetrator may be applied only with the voluntary consent of the child and his or her legal representatives, provided there is no risk of the violence recurring.

The child’s parents or other legal representatives may be invited to the hearing, provided they are not the perpetrators themselves, as well as witnesses to the incident. The child may provide information about the incident in writing. If the child is interviewed during the hearing, a clinical psychologist or social educator must be present. The child’s parents or other legal guardians may also be present, but with their written consent, the child may be heard in their absence. The fact that such a conversation took place, its format, and the main points of the child’s position must be recorded in the case file.

When the School Must Notify the Police and Other Authorities

If the school principal detects signs of abuse, he or she must immediately—but no later than within three hours—notify the authorized unit of the National Police and the local child welfare service in the school’s jurisdiction in writing, including via electronic communication. At the same time, the territorial office of the National Social Service and the State Service of Ukraine for Children’s Affairs—the central executive authority responsible for protecting children’s rights—must be informed of the incident. It is not necessary to wait for a commission meeting or a conclusion that the incident constitutes bullying.

When Is a Case Officially Recognized as Bullying, and What Are the Consequences?

Only a court can officially establish the fact of bullying. A case is considered legally established as bullying after the relevant court decision has entered into force. Therefore, the results of the school commission’s review of the situation do not in themselves mean that the fact of bullying has been legally established.

For bullying, the Code of Ukraine on Administrative Offenses provides for a fine ranging from 850 to 1,700 hryvnias or community service for a period of 20 to 40 hours. If the bullying was committed by a group of individuals or was committed repeatedly within a year by a person who had already been held accountable for such a violation, the fine ranges from 1,700 to 3,400 hryvnias, and community service ranges from 40 to 60 hours.

Separate liability is also established for the head of an educational institution. If they fail to report an incident of bullying to the authorized unit of the National Police, they face a fine ranging from 850 to 1,700 hryvnias or corrective labor for up to one month, with up to 20% of their earnings deducted.

The age of the perpetrator matters. Administrative liability in Ukraine begins at age 16, so from that age onward, a person can be held personally liable for bullying. If the perpetrator is under 16 years of age, the liability provided for in Article 173-4 is borne, in such cases, by their parents or legal guardians: they face the same fines or community service, depending on the circumstances of the offense.

Bullying itself is an administrative offense. However, if actions committed during the bullying separately constitute a criminal offense—for example, causing bodily injury—liability may arise under the relevant articles of the Criminal Code.

What Parents Should Do If the School Fails to Respond or Responds Only Formally

If the school fails to review reports of violence within the established timeframes, does not take the necessary measures, or limits itself to a perfunctory response, parents may contact the school’s founder or the education authority to which the school is subordinate. The school’s governing body is required to review such complaints and make a decision based on the results of that review.

It is best to submit the complaint in a way that allows its content to be verified later. It is advisable to keep a copy of the initial report to the school and the administration’s response, as well as any messages, screenshots, photos, videos, and other materials related to the situation. This will help demonstrate not only the circumstances of the incident itself but also how the school responded to it.

Parents can also contact the police and child welfare services on their own. There is no need to wait for the school to acknowledge the situation as bullying or to complete its internal investigation. It is especially important not to delay contacting the police if there is a threat to the child’s life or health, or if the actions in question may constitute a criminal offense.

You can also file a complaint with the education ombudsman regarding the educational institution’s inaction or inadequate response. The Education Ombudsman has the authority to verify the facts set forth in the complaint, demand that the violation cease and that the rights of those involved in the educational process be restored, and request an official investigation. A complaint to the Education Ombudsman may be filed within one year of the violation being discovered.

If parents need help drafting statements or complaints or determining further legal steps, they can turn to the free legal aid system. Legal consultations are available to everyone, and children are also entitled to free secondary legal aid, including representation of their interests in cases provided for by law.

Олег Пархітько