A Ukrainian teenager, taken to Russia, has tragically committed suicide, prompting an investigation into the incident.

An 18-year-old Ukrainian named Alexander Yakushchenko committed suicide in Russia. He was illegally taken to the Russian Federation from the Kherson region.

This was reported by RBK-Ukraine citing "Important Stories" and the Office of the Prosecutor General of Ukraine on Telegram.

Media Information about the Teenager

As noted by "Important Stories," Alexander Yakushchenko lived in an orphanage near Kherson. The head of the orphanage collaborated with the Russian occupiers, which led her to move to Russia with her wards amid the liberation of the right bank of the Kherson region.

Photo: Alexander Yakushchenko (t.me/istories_media)

The 18-year-old boy ended up in a foster family in Krasnodar Krai. Shortly before his suicide, he sent an audio message to his friends, stating that he felt "unwanted" and that "if he hadn't come to Krasnodar Krai, there wouldn't have been any problems."

According to the publication, he had not seen his biological mother, Elena Yakushchenko, since 2016. Their relationship was strained, and they communicated only by phone.

A Case Has Been Opened

The Office of the Prosecutor General noted that in connection with the information about the teenager's suicide—who was a ward of a family-type home in the village of Tokarevka, Kherson region—criminal proceedings have been initiated regarding the commission of a war crime that resulted in a loss of life.

Deportation of Children to Russia

It should be noted that the deportation of Ukrainian children to Russia has become a widespread issue. Since the beginning of the full-scale war, the occupiers have taken at least hundreds of thousands of children from Ukrainian territory.

However, Ukraine is gradually bringing them back. In particular, recently, five children were successfully returned from Russia and occupied territories.