‘Thank God he’s dead — fewer problems’ The story of Oleksandr Yakushchenko, a Ukrainian teenager deported to Russia who died by suicide after being barred from returning home

Since the start of the full-scale war, thousands of Ukrainian orphans and unaccompanied minors have been deported to Russia and placed in care homes or with foster families. Oleksandr Yakushchenko was among them. Born and raised in Ukraine’s Kherson region, the teenager spent the last year of his life with a foster family in Russia’s Krasnodar Krai. At 18, he died by suicide. His death was not publicly reported anywhere — not on social media, in local news, or by child welfare authorities. The independent outlet iStories spoke with those who knew him to learn more about his life and death. Meduza shares his story.

Oleksandr Yakushchenko, who was taken to Russia from an orphanage in Ukraine during the full-scale war, died by suicide on January 10, 2024. He was 18. His death was first reported by iStories on December 24.

Oleksandr hanged himself just a few miles from the home of his foster family in the village of Akhtanizovskaya in Russia’s Krasnodar Krai. His body was discovered by morning commuters. A forensic expert told his foster parents that the teenager appeared to have tried to escape the noose in his final moments.

Born in Ukraine’s Kherson region, Oleksandr was removed from the care of his biological mother, Olena, in 2016 by Ukrainian child welfare authorities. He lived in an orphanage in the village of Tokarivka, run by a local woman, Lidiia Sharvarly, until the fall of 2022. According to a friend and fellow orphanage resident, Serhii Manchenko, the children at the facility were often forced to work on construction sites and endured beatings.

While the area was under Russian occupation, Sharvarly collaborated with the Russian authorities and was appointed head of Tokarivka and two nearby villages. When Ukrainian forces liberated the region, Sharvarly fled to Russia, taking the eight children in her care with her.

Once in Russia, the children were put in temporary housing before being placed with foster families. Oleksandr was taken in by Natalia and Alexander Lukashenko, described as a “long-time foster family.” According to Alexander, Oleksandr was under their formal care for only a month before turning 18, after which he stayed with them informally. “We fed him; we couldn’t just kick him out. He had nowhere to go,” Lukashenko told iStories. He claimed he did not know why Oleksandr had taken his own life. “He wasn’t under our custody anymore. He was 18, an adult. He just lived with us,” he added.

In a voice message sent to friends shortly before his death, Oleksandr expressed profound despair about his situation with the foster family. “Nobody gives a fuck about me here. They’ve made that clear. I’m ruining everyone’s life. I can’t do this anymore, I’m going to kill myself,” he said. “If it weren’t for me, nobody would have these fucking problems. If only I hadn’t come here. I just can’t anymore… fuck! It hurts so much. I don’t know what to do.” Friends and classmates reportedly tried to dissuade him from taking his life.

iStories journalists found that Yakushchenko had wanted to return to Ukraine, but his foster family reportedly prevented him from doing so. According to one friend, his guardians confiscated his passport at least once. Karina Petrenko, a former orphanage mate, believes this may have played a role in his suicide.

Alexander Lukashenko stated that the family covered Oleksandr’s funeral expenses themselves. However, attendees said he was buried in the cheapest coffin available. “When they laid the flowers, they just tossed them in like for a dog. And when it was time to leave, the foster family said, ‘Thank God he’s dead. Fewer problems,’” recounted a friend of the deceased who asked to remain anonymous.

Another attendee, the mother of one of Oleksandr’s friends, noted, “The foster parents showed no emotion at the funeral. Even if he wasn’t your biological child, he was still your foster child. I couldn’t hold back my tears.” Alexander Lukashenko denied these allegations and threatened legal action if they were published.

Oleksandr is survived by his younger sister, Khrystyna, who remains in Russia under the care of another foster family. She is currently enrolled in a boarding school for children with behavioral and developmental issues in Krasnodar Krai. Her guardian declined to comment.

In Ukraine, both Oleksandr and Khrystyna Yakushchenko are officially listed as missing persons.

If you or someone you know is struggling with thoughts of suicide or in need of support, please reach out to one of the following resources:

For readers in the U.S. and Canada: Call or message 988

For readers in Germany: Call 0800-111-0-111

For other countries: Visit findahelpline.com