Disabled children "abandoned" in Ukrainian institutions - BBC News 

I’ve worked with children with severe ASD. They understand a lot more than most people realize. Utterly heartbreaking.

As a disabled adult, my heart breaks for these children. Just so tragic. They are after all, human beings. May God keep you all safe.

My husband and I adopted two disabled children from Ukraine seven years ago. The conditions I witnessed even back then are incomparably worse than anything shown in this video. My husband and I have wondered if the orphanages and institutions were being abandoned. Profound neglect was rampant before full-scale war broke out. It is all horrifically tragic, but the humanitarian crisis for these children has been going on for much longer than the last few months and involves many other countries and much more severe conditions. If your heart is moved by these images, support families trying to fundraise to bring these kids home. Consider adoption yourself. There are so many children in need.

It is difficult looking after one child with disabilities let alone this many. Those caretakers that stayed are a blessing to these children.

This is absolutely heartbreaking, all children need to be loved, safe and protected 😢😢😢

I am a retired Police Officer and a Retired National Guardsman, I've been in horrible situations and thought I had seen it all. I've seen death and destruction all my life. The worst that humanity has to offer. I've never seen anything that made me cry and pray deeply like this has made me!

The heartbreaking thing in, the neglect these children face has been going on for decades, and the war has made it ten times worse. As a disabled person, knowing this is happening, hurts my soul. They're being dumped as though they're less than human, when they desperately need love, care and protection.

This has been happening way longer then just the war. The conditions that children are in at “ Orphanages” in Ukrainian are so terrible. My heart breaks.

Breaks my heart to see this. I've worked with kids like this in the past. Such great characters and great kids just a bit different. They wanna smile, laugh, live, share and be loved like everyone else. Really hurts to see this. I really hope some help or at least relief can be given to these kids and caretakers. I can't imagine the strain on both sides here. Horrible.

Enormous admiration to the Director and the team for their compassionate professionalism- Many facilities in the UK struggle with a similar lack of resources- (and they dont have an excuse of a war). The care quality commission ( CQC) reports highlight this.

I've taught kids like this and my heart breaks for these children. May God give their caregivers extra strength. Their courage is immeasurable. Prayers in route for everyone involved.🙏💙🙌

Мое уважение тем кто рядом в такой трудной ситуации, рядом с этими не винными мучениками ангелами детьми. Дай Бог что б даровал вам милость в обоих мирах Ин ша Алла

What a terrible situation. I won't be judgemental. All I can say is that these children need stimulation, music, language, movement and most of all human interaction. I hope that they eventually receive the care & love they need. I think of Ukraine every day & I pray for peace in their homeland and safety for all refugees everywhere. 🇺🇦💙💛

At first when I heard that lots of staff had ran away I was disgusted but when I think about it I don’t think we can blame. War is scary. You could die at any moment. The staff that ran away maybe have their own child and other family members who need them and depend on them. It’s a very hard situation to be in. Are the staff really expected to forget their own family and instead stay with the disabled kids. People are scared and don’t want to die so I think it’s a normal reaction to run away to a safer location. It’s human nature to want to survive. I don’t think it’s fair for us to be disgusted with the staff who ran away for a multitude of reasons like wanting to protect their own children, other family members and of course themselves. It’s a very hard decision to make. I’m not saying I’m glad they left the kids behind or anything. It’s a horrible situation to be in. Let’s not be mad at the staff for choosing to run and save their own lives and instead be angry with Putin for creating the situation in the first place where staff had to choose between running and staying with those disabled kids. Let’s remember who the real enemy is here. Those kids are in a dire situation because of one man!

I cried when the young girl was able to make a connection and prove her functional level.

Holy shit my heart is broke seeing this. Godbless the woman & everyone else genuinely trying to help them. Very sad. Be grateful this could have or could be anyone of us

My grandson has autism and he would be like these children separated from our family and his school. He is nonverbal, kinetic and self harms when distressed. To an outsider he would appear disconnect from what is going on around him, with is far from the case. I see his behavior in some of these children they are more aware than they appear, unable to communicate and process the world differently than you or I. 😢

I had friends who 20+ years ago visited this, and went back to devote their lives to help these kids. It's something that didn't happen in the last little while.

Poor babies! Thank you for the ones who are helping

So heartbreaking. 💔

I'm a parent of an 11-year-old child who has severe ASD, and this story is heartbreaking. That said, I'm not sure it is fair to say that all of the children here were "abandoned." The truth is probably more complicated. Of course, there are some parents who would abandon their disabled children: the abandonment of the disabled is a sad yet common theme in our world, during war and peace, prosperity and poverty, etc. However, war and its disruption on families means that a lot of people were probably separated and not by choice. For example, some of these children look as if they were already living in institutions (either for acute short-term or long-term/permanent treatment); some of their families probably lived nearby and could visit them daily (protocols such as COVID permitting, etc.), and so when the Russian army invaded they were able (or should have been able) to take their children with them before fleeing westward. However, I'm betting that a sizable portion of these families lived in smaller towns and cities or rural communities that were some distance from their child's institution, who might have visited or taken their children home on weekends and holidays, etc., and were thus cutoff from their children by these initial pincer movements of Russian troops. Where are they now? Perhaps the parents cannot locate their children, or they could have been forced to locate inside of Russia and are unable to leave or communicate. The parents or guardians could also be dead or injured, and the authorities are still trying to find (or are unable to find) the next of kin. There are all sorts of reasons why these poor, unfortunate children are in this predicament. I can only think what our family would be facing right now if this had happened here. We should blame Putin first. Then let's send aid for these children and those who are caring for them: bless them all!

this does not surprise me, I became disable 22 years ago, I lost my life along with my leg, throughout the years almost every person I know has left me behind, we disable are seen as worthless

As a person with a learning disabilities it hart breaks me to see this I wish they found some were the right support and I hope and pray for that ♥️

This is beyond heartbreaking. My heart goes out to these poor kids :(

You never assume that someone can't understand. It is very damaging to do so. I pray these children get the care they need and deserve. I also know it isn't their carers fault as they are living in a war. They are doing the best they can. I pray they all get help and love.

This is so sad! I'm disabled myself, and this truly breaks my heart!

Just when you think you've seen all the devastation, sadness and miisery, THAT tops it all! 😢🙏❤️

Such beautiful children left behind is so heartbreaking May God protect them and shower those individuals with wisdom, empathy, and love with strength who care for them.

I am mother of 12 year old daughter who autism. Watching this is heart breaking for children with special needs going through war it sad . Pray for special needs children and adults of ukraine 🇺🇦 🙏 💙💛

This is appalling and saddening, even though people are doing their best to look after the children in very difficult circumstances. @BBC: What can we do to help? Are there any organisations setting up aid for these children?

I wish I could go there to help them. This is sooooo sad 😭

This is just heartbreaking 💔💔

Absolutely heartbreaking

Of all the reports I have read and Videos I have seen about the Ukraine-Russian Crisis, this one guts me the most. It really breaks my heart and I broke down just seeing this. These kids are the most vulnerable of the vulnerables. More direct humanitarian aid is needed in Ukraine.

This is heartbreaking 💔

Tied to beds???!!!! And left by the carers to flee the conflict???!!! This is absolutely heartbreaking 😔 And for her say what intellect do they have??? Wow I just can’t believe what I’m seeing🥺

I respect these caregivers. These kids are the true victims even before the war they're mental health disability system in the Ukraine is still set in the 50s

This is so heartbreaking 😭

I feel so sad for the children! My heart breaks...

I feel so bad for them I lost my disabled son this year, breaks my heart all over again .

I have worked with children with disabilities and these children understand a lot of what is going on.... How can their carers just leave them like this?! Unacceptable!

Great piece BBC. It sheds a lot of insight. Hopefully aid follows. These kids didn’t choose to have disabilities

This is heartbreakingly disturbing. As a nurse, years ago I worked with children from Willowbrook State School closed on Staten Island after being exposed for heinous abuses & atrocities. These children remind me so much of the children I cared for in a residential group home environment. The rocking is self stimulating & when standing is indicative of spending hours if not longer in straight jackets. Children will self abuse because feeling anything (including pain) is part of the pattern of neglect. I pray these children get the help & assistance needed from the world. This is inexcusable.

This is heartbreaking! I can't stop crying 😢 😭 💔

OMG this is so heart breaking💔💔💔😭 Praying for you kids🙏🙏🙏🙏❤️

Poor kids breaks my heart

I just have no words this poor children 😔

This is just heartbreaking

I wish i could adopt all of these girls. hopefully their circumstances change for the better soon.

I have Asperger’s and am blind in one eye among other disability’s as well. I take care of my self and don’t not trust anyone else for any help. My disability’s were never acknowledge by anyone growing up not even my family. I was even eventually abandoned at 16….. I was taken in eventually by an older brother who manipulated and abused me. Been a tough hard life and I am finally comfy enough now to look back and try to make sense of it for myself. But yea was not that long ago that no one used to care about us at all and autism was a bad word so it really doesn’t surprise me that they would take the opportunity to abandon there burden.

Heart breaking i cant even imagine what they're going through

Utterly heartbreaking

My heart is breaking for these sweet innocent children, how can you simply walk away?? They all need special help, they all need love,protection, nurturing, and care.. I have a son with disabilities and I could never leave him alone. Praying these children get the help they so desperately need and deserve.

Its so heart breaking, those poor children. These ķids are still human beings. I understand that life is tough for everyone there with the war crime. Those kids deserve alot more. I have disabilities and i would like to help them. They are strap down to the beds thats so wrong. What about human rights.

😢 💔 heartbreaking!

sooo sad 😔 this isn't ok. poor kids. I hope they get love and care!

As a stepdad of a special needs child, this really breaks my heart,I've shed many tears for these poor people, it hurts me to see this, so i couldn't imagine their heartache

This is so heartbreaking on so many levels. To just up and leave these children pretty much to try and fend for themselves. I only hope that they are kept safe but sadly that may not be the case.

Breaks my heart

Worse than a dog pound, you can just feel that every child there needs comfort and physical touch. When my 5 yr old grandson asks me to scratch his back at night I can feel his body relax as he drifts of to sleep. I feel so badly for these helpless people.

Sending so much light and love.

This breaks my heart

Heart breaking poor babies

I wish I could adopt even just one of them, but I'm disabled and poor myself. My heart goes out to them, and I pray this helps bring light to their situation so people who have the ability to help, do.

I too, have worked with children as well as adults with a wide range of severe disabilities. They do understand more than we give them credit for. They need lots of stimulation and lots of one on one work. Continually. A break in that support can send them backwards of anything they have learned or any progress they have made. So heartbreaking for these children.💔💔

This breaks my heart. Omg

Sad report but very needed 😪 thank you for covering this story

Thank you so much for covering this issue as i have been worried about this precise likelihood all along. This is an outcome that is predictable regardless of race, nationality, religion, ethnicity or creed. Thank you for shining a light on the face of the invisible. It was clear to me that both people with mobility and other problems including frail aged and people using chairs as well as orphans would have almost no possible opportunity to either flee, find refuge or sustain themselves. Massive issue that until now i have seen barely touched except for one Al Jazeera article where i requested more coverage. A disabled orphan faces the worst possible outcomes. I wish i could help. My heart absolutely goes out to these souls. It's horror upon horror and, to put it metaphorically, a matter of potentially being shot by both sides when circumstances dictate an ethos of every man for himself, although some brave and kind souls will make exceptions. Edit: Halyna Kurylo, thank you for your work. I will try to look up your organisation. Thank you for caring for human beings regarded as subhuman and please stay safe.

Thank you Dan Johnson for highlighting this absolutely heartbreaking situation, I hope these beautiful children are moved to a safe and proper environment that they deserve

I have worked in the IDD field in numerous roles from service provider to targeted case management since 1996 in Kansas. These individuals have no voice thank you for being their voice right now. Each individual there has my prayers, I wish I knew what else to do! Thank you caregivers for what you are doing, that can't be said enough to you!

This made me cry 😢 😭 poor children this world is so cruel

21st century unbelievable

As a Mother to a extremely disabled terminally ill child this breaks my heart. I am constantly making sure that just incase I have what I need to care for my child. I have fought tooth and nail for my child's right to live how ever long God gives my child. My child has SMA type1 severe and I also have 2 Autistic children on top of that and I'm terminally ill several times over myself. All of my children and myself live together at my own home. I would help children like this even more severe if you look up SMA type 1. I have many medical certificates for care because of my child's health need's to be able to bring my child home. I hope and pray these children can be placed in loving caring forever homes. Where they are loved unconditionally eternally. Much love and Blessings to these children and the people trying to care for them. I cannot imagine the situation with dealing with the war. These people that did stay and care for these children are HERO'S. 😭❤️🕊🙏🙏🙏🕊

A really deeply thank you to those people who stay and help them God bless them 🙏

God bless them all and their care givers.

I volunteered as a teenager at an institution for physical and mentally disabled people. I was never in a situation like it is in Ukraine. To understand the mindset of parents who leave their children in institutions like that one has to be in their situation. Many of these children need specialized care. Ukraine has never been a rich country and most people have to work to support themselves. It takes a special person to care for these people. You have to have a heart for it. It is more than a job. War is a terrible thing and I understand that some of these caretakers got scared and left the country. Unless we are in their shoes we will not know what we would do in a similar situation. Another problem is that in former east block countries these handicapped children have no rights. I don't think it changed much since Ukraine declared independence from the Soviet Union. It was expected to place handicapped children into these institutions and forget that they existed. The caretakers in most cases were most likely not paid very well and saved themselves. We have no right to judge them because we are not confronted by war like it is in Ukraine. May they all stay safe and may this conflict be over soon.

This is one of the most sad things I have ever seen! These children were abandoned by the staff that fled Ukraine! God bless the ones that stayed behind with them! They need to be rescued and taken to a safe country! They need help! Please bring them to UK! ❤️❤️❤️❤️

This is so heartbreaking. These kids deserve the best in life

Prayers

As a man on the autism spectrum myself, this is nothing short of heartbreaking. My thoughts and prayers are with the Ukrainian people during this extremely difficult time.

I'm a care worker who works with young people just like this, and it just breaks my heart. People like this are so misunderstood, they have wants and likes and dislikes, just like all of us. Each one is an individual that deserves care and support. For them to be left behind and forgotten is unfortunately unsurprising, but still heartwrenching.

Wow absolutely heart breaking

I'm so sorry little ones. God be with the caregivers

“What intelegt can you see here?” These people given the right facilites could show more care and love for others than you could ever wish for!

as a health care woker i can tell you that the system barely functions for vunrable patient during normal times but in war time with lack of food water and surrport not to mention danger i cant imagine what the healthcare staff will have to do to take care of there patients.

heartbreaking.

This such a heartbreak, and all the prayers and support goes to them 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻

This is beyond heartbreaking. My heart is sobbing for these precious children & their caretakers. I’m so very deeply sorry what you’re all going through. I wish the DRI mentioned how we can help or you gave some hope that they were going to be moved & cared for in a more safe, attentive environment, tho the people looking after them are doing as best as they’re able given the situation. I’m praying ever so fervently for you all. May peace be with you & quickly. 🙏🏼🕊💜🇺🇦

So sad… human instinct in fight or flight flee or risk being killed trying to help take some of the children with you…. Such a hard thing to understand or do. Speechless

The things that are going on in this world, leave me speechless !! 😭

This reminds me of what was coming out of Romania decades back. This is beyond awful. My heart breaks for every one of these precious, vulnerable children.

Im shocked this happens and shocked this video Doesnt get the attention it deserves

Utterly heartbreaking.

Heartbreaking!

I'm only glad to see some people are doing the best they can...god bless them

The guy who runs the place hit the nail right on the head when he ďescribed the parents & families who have abandoned their children as being utterly selfish. It's not just heartbreaking, its downright infuriating that the very people who are supposed to care and love these souls the most are the very ones who are actually stabbing them in the back because they don't really want the hassle or the responsibility. I myself have Aspergers syndrome which is a form of Autism and even here in the UK, the levels of ignorance and utter cluelessness when it comes to the subject is just mind-boggling. It requires a lot of education of people in mainstream society but first those people have got to want to listen and learn, and many of those are professionals who are in positions of authority and in many cases you find that you are actually up against widespread arrogance.

I'm retired, but this is reminding me of my work with learning disabilities, now called learning difficulties. It's awful, they need to be looked after properly. Enable, not disable was our motto.

Heartbreaking. Unbelievable. God bless these children 🙏

I would take in that little girl Oksana in a heartbeat, can't talk, she can understand and sing, I'm in tears again now, bless all of you.

Its understandable why the caretakers left, its war. It is sad but true. In war it will be very hard to transport those kids who are severely disabled, physically and mentally. Hats off to those that stayed behind for those kids. They show that humans can still so compassion even to those that were left behind. Hopefully the russian military have some compassion left for those kids and the caretakers that stayed behind with them.