A coach from Volyn who raped young female trainees for years was sentenced to 7.5 years in prison
From 2012 to 2021 he blackmailed female athletes by threatening to bar them from competitions and forced "massages" at training camps, which caused insomnia and panic attacks
In the Volyn region, a former head coach of the youth national volleyball team was sentenced to 7 years and 6 months in prison for sexual violence and the rape of underage athletes, abuse of official position, and career blackmail that lasted almost ten years.
According to the Office of the Prosecutor General, the court in Volyn found the coach guilty of crimes against the sexual freedom and integrity of minors and imposed a sentence of 7 years and 6 months of imprisonment; details are available on the agency’s official resource: gp.gov.ua.
The investigation established that in the period from 2012 to 2021 the convicted man, while heading a youth sports school and serving as the head coach of the youth team, systematically committed unlawful acts against the girls in his care, threatening them with expulsion from the team and denial of participation in competitions if they did not comply.
According to the Volyn Regional Prosecutor’s Office, the agency clarified that the man hid behind supposedly mandatory “massages,” used various objects and committed sexual violence after training sessions, in hotels during away tournaments, and at camps both in Ukraine and abroad, as stated in the prosecutor’s office website notice: vol.gp.gov.ua.
The prolonged intimidation and pressure, as well as the violent acts, led to physical and psychological injuries in the victims, manifesting as insomnia, a constant sense of fear, and panic attacks.
The prosecution was supported in court by juvenile prosecutors from the Volyn Regional and Lutsk District Prosecutor’s Offices for about 4 years, while the defendant did not admit guilt.
The prosecution is preparing an appeal, insisting on the imposition of the maximum possible sentence under the charged articles of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, which include sexual violence, indecent acts involving minors, attempted rape, and rape.
The crimes were first reported by underage athletes, and later another victim who had already reached adulthood at the time of reporting joined the investigation.
