In Warsaw, a minibus driver struck a 14-year-old Ukrainian at a crosswalk and fled the scene of the accident.
This was reported by Radio Free Europe. A passerby, a military personnel, provided assistance to the Ukrainian teenager. The boy was taken to the hospital but unfortunately succumbed to severe head and chest injuries.
It is known that the incident occurred on January 3. The district prosecutor's office in Warsaw announced today, January 6, that the deceased was a citizen of Ukraine.
"The victim is a citizen of Ukraine. The perpetrator is a citizen of Poland. After the incident, the suspect hid the minibus in the vicinity of Warsaw, where he consumed alcohol with a family member," said Piotr Skiba, a representative of the district prosecutor's office in Warsaw, at a press conference.
It is noted that it is still unclear whether the deceased boy was a refugee. Skiba stated that "this will be clarified tomorrow, after law enforcement speaks with the victim's mother."
The minibus driver was apprehended on January 4. The 43-year-old Andrzej K. was found to be under the influence of alcohol at the time of his arrest. He is known to work for a courier service and, according to the prosecutor's office, has prior convictions, including for drug possession and aiding foreigners in illegal border crossings. The prosecutor will file a motion with the court to impose preventive detention on the driver.
Andrzej K. is charged with two offenses – causing a fatal traffic accident and fleeing the scene. These charges carry a prison sentence of 5 to 20 years.
Incidents Involving Ukrainians Abroad
In Warsaw, a Pole struck a Ukrainian citizen in the back after hitting her with his car. At the time, it was reported that the police advised the Ukrainian woman not to file a complaint against the attacker.
In November, a group of individuals with red flags attacked Ukrainians during a ceremony honoring the victims of the Holodomor. During the attack, a representative of the Ukrainian embassy was injured.
It was also previously reported that in Germany, during a conflict sparked by Russia's military aggression in Ukraine, a Ukrainian truck driver was killed. Law enforcement arrested several men, one of whom is a citizen of Uzbekistan.