Over 70 students were poisoned at a Lyceum in Rovno, prompting the police to launch an investigation.

On January 10, several students from junior classes at a Rivne lyceum reported digestive issues, and by January 13, 72 students exhibited similar symptoms, with one child being hospitalized. Law enforcement opened a criminal case due to violations of sanitary regulations, reported the Main Department of the National Police in the Rivne region.

According to police information, around noon on January 10, several junior students complained of feeling unwell. The school nurse examined the children and provided medical assistance, after which the children were sent home accompanied by their parents.

As of January 13, similar signs of poisoning were observed in 72 students. One child was hospitalized in a medical facility.

These incidents were reported to the Rivne City Council's education department, and specialists from the Rivne Regional Center for Disease Control and Prevention were involved in the investigation.

The cause of the students' poisoning has not yet been disclosed.

According to law enforcement, investigators from the Rivne District Police Department initiated a criminal case based on the results of the inspection under part 1 of Article 325 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine — violation of sanitary rules and norms aimed at preventing infectious diseases and mass poisoning. This article prescribes penalties including fines of up to 100 non-taxable minimum incomes, imprisonment for up to six months, or up to three years of restriction of freedom.

On January 13, the press service of the Rivne City Council reported that the education department urgently initiated an inspection of sanitary compliance at Rivne Lyceum No. 8 due to students seeking medical attention with complaints of poisoning symptoms.

Until laboratory test results are received, some students from the lyceum have been transitioned to remote learning.

Recall that on December 24, the Main Department of the National Police in the Odessa region reported that three children were poisoned by an unknown substance in the area: two girls aged 3 and 5, and a seven-year-old boy. Medical personnel were unable to save them.

On January 6, the Main Department of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine in the Kyiv region reported that a power bank exploded in the locker room of a gym at a lyceum in the city of Bila Tserkva. A fire broke out, and 24 rescuers were involved in extinguishing it.