Mother whose son jumped off balcony because of the ‘Blue Whale’ suicide challenge speaks out

A Ukrainian mother of a schoolboy who survived the “Blue Whale” suicide play has shared her concern that the abusers will “hunt her son again until they kill him.”

Olga Tkachenko and her son, Mykyta Kovalchuk, 10, shared their story on a talk show, warning others not to become addicted to the perpetrators who drive children and teens to suicide.

“I want to warn parents about such situations that break the lives and fates of many,” the mother said in a recent television interview.

Last September, Mykyta jumped from a six-story balcony in Kiev, Ukraine, performing his latest challenge given to him by a Blue Whale “mentor.”

It happened after Mykyta came home from school feeling unwell and Olga left their apartment to buy medicine to bring down his fever.

Mother Olga Tkachenko and her son, Mykyta Kovalchuk, 10, (pictured together) shared their story on a talk show, warning others not to become addicted to the perpetrators who drive children and teens to suicide, and shared her concerns that they’ will hunt’. her son again until they kill him’

While she was gone, the boy reportedly drank some alcohol, went to the balcony and climbed to the window sill.

According to reports, he drew Valentine’s heart on the glass of a balcony window before stepping outside.

When Mother came home, she met police officers and neighbors at the front door of her apartment. They told her that Mykyta had just been taken to the hospital in critical condition.

“He was a good kid and good at studying. He had everything he needed. I couldn’t understand how this could happen to him and my family,” said Olga.

For Mykyta’s good fortune, he avoided fatal damage to his internal organs or bones after falling from 20 meters.

“Mykyta was in bad shape, but his spinal cord was not damaged and that gave us hope,” said the mother.

The boy spent the next two months in the hospital, half of which was in intensive care.

Now, nine months after the incident, he is physically fine, but his mother believes that “his abusers will be hunting him again and his life is still in danger.”

“I live in constant fear and fear for my son’s life. I’m afraid they’ll find him again this time to finish the job,’ Olga said.

Olga Tkachenko and her son, Mykyta Kovalchuk, 10, shared their story on a talk show (pictured) and warned others not to become addicted to the perpetrators who drive children and teens to suicide

Ten-year-old Mykyta spent two months in the hospital – half the time spent in intensive care. Now, nine months after the incident, he is physically fine, but his mother believes “his abusers will be hunting him again and his life is still in danger”

The roots of her worries lie in the past, she explained. When Mykyta was 9 years old, he first joined the game, but then managed to stop, according to her.

Her son now goes to psychologists to become less susceptible to the influence of other people.

‘Mykyta is an absolutely mentally healthy child. Any child can come under such an influence. Children and teenagers are often influenced by others,” said Maria, the boy’s psychologist.

The Blue Whale Challenge is an online suicide game aimed at kids and teens. The game’s so-called mentors give their victims about 50 assignments and praise them every time another assignment is completed.

When the young victim is under the full control of the mentor, they face a fatal final challenge: to commit suicide.

The game, which reportedly started in Russia, has caused numerous deaths around the world, including Ukraine, India and the United States.

The first reports of the victims appeared in Russia in 2016, and in 2020, police in Britain warned parents to monitor their children’s online activities and urged them to talk about the dangers they could face.

At the time, Northants police said: ‘We are aware of a disturbing social media challenge dubbed the ‘Blue Whale Challenge’ which encourages teenagers to take part in a series of 50 challenges culminating in them committing suicide .

This challenge first appeared in 2016 and assignments are given online or via SMS, instant messages or posts on Instagram and Twitter.

“Please talk to your kids about the dangers and tell them not to open messages or challenges of this kind.”

The game is strongly linked to the name Jonathan Galindo, a man who can also be seen with his face painted as Mickey Mouse or a dog

The first reports of the victims appeared in Russia in 2016, and in 2020, police in Britain warned parents to watch their children’s online activities and urged them to talk about the dangers they could face to get

In a lengthy Facebook post, Northants police recommend that parents watch out for children who receive messages or messages about Jonathan Galindo, a man who can also be seen with his face painted as Mickey Mouse or a dog.

And also receiving or referring to #f57, #f40 or #IMAwhale.

Many experts have suggested that the initial reports of the ‘Blue Whale’ challenge were a sensational hoax which in turn led to instances of imitation self-harm and copycat groups.

If you are affected by the contents of this story, you can find confidential support by calling Samaritans at 116 123 or by visiting samaritans.org.