'They Spat In My Face': Ukrainian Girl Recounts Bullying In Czech School

A 7-year-old Ukrainian refugee made headlines in the Czech Republic after a video showed children spitting at her and making pro-Russian statements. The incident led Czech President Petr Pavel to invite her for a meeting. Speaking to RFE/RL, Polina Butkivska said she felt bewildered and offended.
Originally published at - www.rferl.org/a/czech-ukraine...

[@chessnut4886]

55 years after the "Prague Spring"! The parents of these children should be ashamed of themselves!

[@mattyboy456]

Ashamed for what?? Ukrops deserve it.

[@TimberlakeTigerGirl]

​@@leoa1893Of teaching their children to be uncivilized and act like animals? To those who had been forced to leave their homes because of a war their own country started? So if Polish children started spitting on Russian kids and called them bad names. Should their parents be proud as well?

[@EncourageLegacy]

@@leoa1893 Despite all politics. You obviously don't have any children, and thank God.

[@thefastandthedead1769]

@@leoa1893 You are enabling f@scism!

[@yo2trader539]

Do Czech people have that concept? Obviously, the kids are getting this from their parents and grandparents.

[@vvvv5287]

Children regardless of which country, should not be used as a “weapon” to hurt another child. Thankful that this Ukraine child is matured; the President handled it well; the “bully” children understood and apologised. Kids are innocent humans. Love them regardless of which countries. Guide them.

[@thearkei2943]

Imagine they are older.... growing up .... then u got real problems.

[@mpakakas3518]

@@thearkei2943 they must be arrested by the thought police right away!!!

[@thearkei2943]

@@mpakakas3518 hooe dies at last

[@Josef-EU]

A Czech here. I feel so bad for the girl and everyone who has been bullied, no matter their nationality. Some people can be extremely mean, including kids. All bullies need to be recorded and uploaded to KZbin and social media.

[@jgdooley2003]

The trouble with making bullies public is that in years to come they will be bullied by society for what often is a small number of isolated incidents in their youth when most people are immature and subject to mainipulation by unscrupulous adults and form erroneous opinions and attitudes towards nations based on propaganda. Russia has labelled the Ukrainian nation as fascists and Hitlerites to justify its invasion of Ukrainian land. There could be nothing worse than a Hitlerite or fascist in Czech eyes given their history with neighbours Germany. Also not to be forgotten that many in the Soviet Army which occupied Czech lands in the Communist era were Ukrainian. These 2 possible pathways to hate are extremely unfortunate but the victims parents and the President of Czechia seem to have it under control. I used to be bullied at school for perceived emotional and psychological differences. Only years later did I find out that the worst bullies were often bullied themselves, often abused by parents or other family members outside school, unknown at thet time by school authorities or victims parents. I now know that a complex chain of bad parenting, lax supervision of children by school authorities and social indifference to bullying at that time were all to blame for the bullying I endured. Present day attitudes now have zero tolerance to bullying and hopefully effective measures can be taken to alleviate the worst effects of bullying.

[@agnelomascarenhas8990]

What is of concern is how the bully children were brainwashed. Children themselves are not to be blamed. Respect for the Czech President.

[@Josef-EU]

@@agnelomascarenhas8990 Brainwashed by whom? Kids don't have empathy until certain age so they can behave like little psychopaths sometimes and it has nothing to do with being brainwashed. These kids apparently hated her for being from somewhere else. If she said she was Russian, she would get the same treatment from bullies.

[@agnelomascarenhas8990]

@josefh.8480 Watch the video again. The children ask her who she is, she replies Ukrainian. they say "Ukraine is a whore. Ukraine is stupid. Russia is strong" etc. She replies "Russia is sh*t" - that is when some child spat on her. I didn't comment on the children. I said they are brainwashed (by adults, by Russian propaganda).

[@vladnickul]

Yep. slavs, all slavs are indeed medieval :)

[@bigdaddyrat7854]

She has the heart of a lion to stand up to the bullies.

[@janeck.8695]

That is because she is Ukrainian. Resilient, strong people.

[@bigdaddyrat7854]

@@janeck.8695 Viva Zelenskyy ~ Slava Ukraini! ...and Slava janeck.8695

[@D25Reg-ie9su]

This is Putins propaganda for spreading wrong info…Bullies should be in jail….🇵🇭🇺🇦🇨🇦🇨🇦🇨🇦💪💪👍

[@elainekarlsson8384]

Exceptionally good move by President Petr Pavel! The best!❤

[@Kauppi2]

Ukraine is wh0 r e

[@1midnightfish]

Poor baby, she's had to grow up so fast... I was shocked to hear she's only seven - I watched part of a video about this other day (there were no subtitles and my Ukrainian isn't that good yet, so I gave up) and I thought she must nine or ten, just by the way she speaks and holds herself. The Czech authorities did the right thing here, and hopefully publicising this case will do something to counter the propaganda behind these disgusting acts. Слава українському народові! 💙💛

[@viktornovomestsky3999]

The boys have apologized to her and their parents were ashamed to hear what their kids have done, as according to them, they are strong supporters of Ukraine... It was a small incident, thanks to our own experience under USSR from 1948 till 1989, we are very strong supporters, f.e. there is 524.000 refugees, the highest amount per capita in the EU, as we only have 10,5 million citizens.... Sadly, there are pro-Russian citizens in each country...

[@stevemcgowen]

@@viktornovomestsky3999 Exactly. Even before the war Ukrainians were the largest expat community in Prague...

[@Nubbe999]

I don't think this is the kind of news fathers at the Ukrainian front want to hear about after being away from their children for a year. And it's not acceptable to bully any children but especially children that come from a war with very traumatic experiences.

[@Glimmmerra]

Children elulate what they are taught at home, shame on those parents of the bullies for being horrible examples of hate for war refugees ... they need to learn compassion and how to teach it to their children. There but for the grace of God go I.

[@thusspokezarathustra1847]

This will only make her and other Ukrainians stronger. Slava

[@Kauppi2]

Ukraine is a wh*re

[@kerrygraham3544]

Petr Pavel your an honorable man. Slava Ukraini!

[@Ass_of_Amalek]

I'm very impressed with how well polina handled that. she's smart! :)

[@ellasmommy9278]

I'm sure those Chech kids apologized, but I bet they're not sorry. People there really need to see what's going on. Because hate crimes don't originate amongst 6 and 7 year-olds. Sending love❤ from 🇺🇲

[@greengarnish1711]

The kids eventually will learn what they did is wrong. But the grown ups who are pro-russian get no excuse and should be dealt with accordingly

[@jackbolder5734]

Doubt that. At that age, their characters are already formed.

[@Kauppi2]

Ukraine is Wh*re

[@Travellingisagift]

I feel sorry this little girl been bullied. I am glad she is a strong girl❤ I wish her the best in life

[@occamraiser]

The children need to be helped to understand how their actions are wrong and their parents need to be punished. This is disgusting and lets not forget that ' the apple does not fall far from the tree', when it comes to children and their parent's prejudices.

[@Diversusmilitary]

Come to Portugal we take care of you Dear Ukrainians…. Glory to Ukraine…

[@mut3d]

I'm Czech and I'm very sorry. I have many friends from Ukraine, so not everyone here is like those kids. Most of my Czech friends support Ukraine, some of them even donated to Ukraine or helped other ways. So please don't give up on us. We're target of Russian hybrid war for a very long time, unfortunately. And it's partially effective and mainly between less privileged people. Stay strong Ukrainian people.

[@janeck.8695]

Very, very well said. Thanks for the comment.

[@AdrianBoyko]

Every country has its own deplorables… 🇺🇸❤️🇨🇿

[@tyvole36]

Those bullies were probably gypsy children since there's been a lot of tension between the two groups recently

[@CalimehChelonia]

Long live Ukraine! Support from Austria.

[@urbanfranko]

Kids say the darndest things. Unfortunately bulling exists anywhere and everywhere.

[@stevan2399]

God bless every Ukrainian child who has had to leave their home, their relatives their friends to go to a safe country 🙏

[@ToughMaybe]

Unfortunately kids like to provoke others by saying bad things, especially if they see someone weak. But eventually they'll all learn their lesson, that they were wrong

[@D25Reg-ie9su]

Everyone human being is equal…..Slava Ukraine….. Stopputin…thanks for sharing this message…🇵🇭🇵🇭🇺🇦🇺🇦🇨🇦🇨🇦🇨🇦👍❤️

[@divelizard1966]

You are growing in a very stressful an difficult time, but stay proud of your Ukrainian heritage young lady. You are the future an Ukraine 🇺🇦 will prosper in time.

[@tinab8629]

Heart breaking...hope she is ok.

[@spacecat4691]

I think I saw you already on some other news regarding Ukraine. You seem to follow the topic :)

[@tinab8629]

@@spacecat4691 Hi, Live long and prosper 🖖:)

[@cherylk.2474]

Such a sweet and lovely child! I pray for victory for Ukraine every day, and I hope she can soon return to her beautiful country.

[@susansmith9263]

Glad the child has been made whole again, by the President. ❤❤

[@asanitationstompout8473]

Pile em up. 🇺🇸🇺🇦

[@DonnaMcFadden]

As is if this child and so many others like her haven't endured enough!!😢

[@LexPips]

Sorry that happened to you Polina but know that the USA and all freedom loving Countries are with your beloved Ukraine 🇺🇦 & against the invading war criminals from Russia. Keep your head raised high & Slava Ukraine 🇺🇦 🤛🤙👍

[@Diversusmilitary]

Russia propaganda doesn’t work here in Portugal… You are welcome to Portugal.

[@tomassiegl4991]

Russian propaganda works everywhere.

[@Austech]

Well handled by the Czech's. It's a pity Russia's propaganda spreads to those so young, but nothing surprises me.

[@theraiderra8798]

I hope the kids that praised ruzzia gets detention for a few years. And it's most likely that some of their parents have told them this.

[@OstblockLatina]

Children at this age's mental and intellectual level, that is when it comes to bullies, is that everything provocative is somehow fun and brave, so they say thing like that basically to show off and try to dominate other children they say it to. Why some children become bullies is another problem, but it usually originates in violence and/or neglect they themselves experience in their families. I would definitely have them send to psychologist and put their parents and relatives under scrutiny.

[@stivenson391]

In some developed European countries spitting is a criminal offence, and parents would be responsible for the action of the child if he or she is minor.

[@janeck.8695]

The parents of these monsters are responsible. I am so very sorry this happened to this little Ukrainian girl. She certainly had to mature fast. Kudos to the Czech President, he handled it very well.

[@babumbyi9516]

This the way they treat blacks in Ukraine too is a fair game

[@yeboxxxchannel2505]

You Are an id*ot.. You know that? You should condemn both, not f@cking be ok with it as an eye for an eye basis by Chammurapy.. Also you don't live in Ukraine. So if you think you have a right to call out majority of Ukraine as anti-black, you DON'T m

[@mikepatrick454]

I agree, these Ukrainians in Canada act similar as well

[@tomasmartinek8330]

As the citizen of the Czech Republic I feel very angry to see it. Ukrainians defend our freedom against Russia and they get this? 😢

[@theovanderstorm3171]

Do they teach history in school in the Czech Republic? 1968.

[@Mirinovic]

Yes we did

[@leer1698]

they are kids so they havent learned about Czech history in the 60s yet. itll bite them soon

[@yeboxxxchannel2505]

It's the most standard thing learned here. But the way it can be used against Ukrainians for BARELY any reason, was calling out Brezhnev for being of Ukrainian origin. (People somehow use this to justify hate on Ukraine and some Ukrainians) But the thing Is, Ukrainians at the time including Brezhnev were still very much influenced by Soviet politics that were created by Russians themselves.

[@mattyboy456]

My respect for Czechs only multiplied manifold.. 🥰

[@dailyclicks8308]

Got what she deserved

[@matthewbeesley5850]

Here in Canada we have been very welcoming to our new Ukrainian arrivals. Of course we have over one million Canadians with Ukrainian heritage.

[@gondorianslayer4250]

Poor kids.

[@aadhihere007]

This was bad, but don't judge book by its cover. Sorry for that experience to her. Czech republic people are very helpful and welcoming Ukrainians. Thanks to the president who invited her and treated nice. Slava Ukraine

[@jfm14]

Yes, part of what makes this so shocking to me is that it occurred in the Czech Republic. Every Czech I know is devoutly pro-Ukraine.

[@flynndiesl]

Well done my girl. Bless you

[@coldcoder3138]

I hope she is ok.

[@zoecolquitt1355]

In my country Russian propaganda is still infullicing the republican party eversince 2016 GOP candidates are echoing Putin's views on Ukraine This is why I went democrat

[@treefarm3288]

I feel so sorry for this girl. Her Mum didn't really have a choice to bring themselves to this country. The people should respect the desperation of refugees. Unfortunately here in Australia its the same, at least officially. The people are more caring.

[@stevemcgowen]

I have seen videos of Z and Wagner rallies in Australia...

[@Pidalin]

It's very complicated here in Czechia, because Ukrainians were part of occupation armies in 1968 and people hate them the same as Russians, but in last few years, hate against Putin was stronger, so people somehow tolerated Ukrainians, but with more Ukrainians you see everywhere, people are turning back to hate them the same as Russians. Also Ukrainians themselves don't help much because it's in new every day that some Ukrainian raped a girl or murdered someone, they carry knives and they just have that reputation of people you should be aware of, this is how most of Czechs see eastern europeans generally, before 2022, people didn't see any different between Ukrainians or Russians, from Czech point of view, they look the same and speak the same and their mentality is also the same. Even I know about cases in my surroundings when Ukrainian went to prison. I agree with help to real refugees, but unfortunately, you see a lot of Ukrainians who are just hiding here and avoiding military service and people are getting angry and if this stupid war doesn't end soon, it will be really bad for Ukrainians, people are angry because in time when butter cost 3 eur, governement is sending billions to Ukraine and buying weapons. I am not saying agree with these opinions, I am just explaining what is happening here and people should not see all these people just as some Russian trolls, most of them are just normal people who can't even pay rent and electricity in today crazy inflation and economical crisis (it's mch worse than crisis from 2008 which didn't hit us much back in the day) so they people think that Ukrainians steal their social benefits and overusing system and if government will not solve that, there will be war at streets, it's already happening, in last months for example roma community started literally war against ukrainians, the target them and attack them, there are already deaths because of this conflict, it has to end soon. It looks like after all, Putin really managed to do it, destroy Europe by this crazy refugee crisis which we can't handle. You go to some local supermarket in village and you hear just russian or ukrainian, so people are angry and it doesn't mean they are all proRussian, it's not that simple. Also we know about terrible corruption in Ukraine and when you look at Ukrainian cars in Prague....these people are obviously mafians, oligarchs and kids of politicians, they are not refugees and people don't want to pretend they don't see it anymore like when war started.

[@mrstoner2udude799]

Is this how we teach our children? I bet those bullies parents are "christian" too. I'll never stop supporting Ukrainians. They are better than all of us and deserve respect and peace. . . and their damn country back.

[@MrDude826]

The Czech were brainwashed to hate religion by the USSR and the communist dictatorship.

[@ludwigderbartige5191]

😢

[@HeyMJ.]

Spitting on another’s a physical assault, punishable by law in the USA. The Czech Republic should rally behind this youngster and Ukraine. Its gov’t may consider a public service announcement series that teaches citizens abt how Russian propaganda works; spreading fake news (alt-facts). Thank you RFE/RL for reporting on this issue.

[@wzigunabe3761]

She's smart, unlike her school mates. This girl knows right from wrong.

[@eldorado1954]

the truth hurts

[@1234crevis]

Wow this girl is a badass! Even tho she was being ganged up on she still stuck up for what she knows is right! Don't worry honey there's billions of people behind you! Glory to Ukraine!

[@jojolafrite90]

Freaking planet. I swear, sometimes... Shame.

[@lokesh303101]

Don't have any hate propaganda against anyone.

[@asanitationstompout8473]

Russian KIAs up 223.3k+, WIAs up 661.3k+, casualties total over 881.8k (minusrus|ukrinform) . .. ... . ... . .. . .. Keep the mountains of corpses coming, UA. 🙏🏿🙏🏿🙏🏿😔 🇺🇸🇺🇦

[@Jarod-te2bi]

0:26 Russia doesn’t even hold 30 percent of the nation of Ukraine

[@Robolaralobarar]

Is the family pro ukrainain? Or pro russian ?

[@deecee1522]

SLAVA UKRAINI❤‍🔥

[@thefastandthedead1769]

RuSSia's propaganda has stirred up this hate! Those children are too young just now, but at some point, they should be made to study "Lord of the flies" by William Golding. Children are so impressionable and can very easily be influenced in a negative way. However, they are also capable of beautiful thoughts and deeds too.

[@jatc3742]

O Fantástico Povo UCRANIANO, merece e tem todo o meu respeito e admiração. Glória à UCRÂNIA 🇺🇦 .

[@tomasbeno4213]

💙💛

[@Miagolao5]

I think children in Cekia or st least those who show hate towards ucraininas childrens must seen on videos what happened to their peer in ucraina..how they were killed and died in hospitals in Kiyv Kharkiv Odessa ect ...

[@cristiangaban960]

Those kids would have done exactly the same if she was Russian .It's not politics, it's looking for reasons to bully someone and the know how to find your weak spot.

[@janusz-kowalski]

You have right.

[@Pidalin]

Czechs mostly hate both - Ukrainians and Russians, so yes, it's the same for these kids and their parents. Situation here is that only because of today crisis and war, hate against Putin is stronger, but people will return to hating Ukrainians soon if war doesn't end soon. It's already happening and many Ukrainians don't help to that by the way how they behave, their mentality is way different and these cultural differences cause a lot of ridiculous conflicts. For a Czech person, just that Ukrainains are calling in trains all the time (very often with loud speaker so everyone hears them) can be reason to start a conflict, because in our culture, you are silent in public transportation and you don't bother other people, but Ukrainians are totaly different and even people who very supported them in 2022 are not that willing to tolerate their behavior anymore. They arrested one Ukrainian from our work and his wife is angry and surprised by that, she is saying that they would solve that somehow in Ukraine, he almost killed a cyclist by car when he was driving drunken, how would she solve that in Ukraine? By corruption and bribes I guess. I support Ukraine in this war, but I really hope they will return home after war and take their mentality with them.

[@irithastranton]

♥️👍🏾🙏🏾

[@brianloughnane781]

Come to Pennsylvania. We’ve received immigrants from Ukraine over the past century. We’ve got Ukrainian churches and clubs. We’ve got many job opportunities.

[@stevemcgowen]

About half of America are reich wing MAGAT types. Only about 15% in CR are like this...

[@Robolaralobarar]

Why they in czech ? Why not poland or uk or germany

[@Petr_z_Janiku]

And why not in Czech ? I saw a lot of anti-Ukrainian protests in Poland as well. Just because a couple of fools believed Russian propaganda and their children repeat it after them does not mean that every Czech is against Ukraine or pro-Russian.

[@leer1698]

@@Petr_z_Janiku there are Poles who are anti-Ukrainian because of Volhynia genocide. it sucks that Ukraine has not fully apologised but they are taking steps into addressing it further. there is always going to be hate in this world. we were all humans before, but now we all have different cultures, identities and such. not against it, but im just saying that people will always find a way to hate.

[@efficiencygaming3494]

She held herself together very well. As a Ukrainian, she has every right to call Russia "crap" for all they've done to her country. Those kids may have apologized, but that doesn't mean they're sorry. They most likely have pro-Russian parents who encourage anti-Ukrainian behavior and rhetoric.

[@thisisbob1001]

Come to UK please, we welcome all Ukraine people

[@HunterShows]

Ukrainians are really beautiful people.

[@boscat666]

the children apologised, it says at the end . what a stupid comment from radio free europe : like those kids are to blaim . kids copy theyr family so you blaiming the kids is saying that you like what happened and blaim the wrong ?

[@PapaGringo1]

if young children are bullying this girl, the hate comes from their parents. with the fall of the Iron Curtain, remember, their were ruZZian collaborators left over in all former Soviet block countries.

[@drovoseg]

Bullies were speaking the mix of the Czech and Ukrainian language, not Russian

[@nataliiateteruk585]

Ukranians should be helped no matter the costs.

[@Paul28057]

I cannot imagine how those boys or their parents wpuld treata brown or black person.

[@cocaineminor4420]

Here in USA We have white , black, Asian , brown , native people But for Czech is like 99% white

[@ihatepeas46]

😢💔.🙏🇺🇦♥️🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🙏

[@INSANESUICIDE]

They are kids, kids will bully for any reason there is, had she been french she would still have been other and different. The sad thing here is the serious undertone of the situation and that children are abusing each other over something they do not and should not yet understand.

[@aliyevruslan936]

Bohemia protectorate of Heydrich

[@yeboxxxchannel2505]

What did you call us? WHY did you call us that? WHAT makes you think you have a right to call us that?! We Czechs are not racists and I condemn the bullying toward Ukrainians.

[@aliyevruslan936]

Say that to your dooshbag minister Jan Lipevsky. Not even 4 generations since ww2 and many of you already went from victim to monster@@yeboxxxchannel2505

[@aliyevruslan936]

@@yeboxxxchannel2505 strip clubs? Cezch? Squat toilef exporter

[@granceadalim8502]

ukranian people is good, god bless you always

[@herbertsattelmeier2941]

Haha cyka.

[@maureenstevens6824]

Why ?!?! I don't understand. I didn't think the Czechs were pro ruzzian.

[@Petr_z_Janiku]

if you think that Czechs are pro-Russian only because a couple of stupid parents transferred their hatred to their children, then you are very mistaken

[@katiedid1851]

Czecks are hard people Too bad they are thugs I dislike bullies

[@therealdohos2607]

im totally on ukraine side but these videos are just inputing bias to ppl worldwide

[@GermanConquistador08]

Good

[@Nubbe999]

This is a pro-western channel just as there are pro-russian channels. Still in this case it does not change the situation for the girl and the video can act as a reminder for everyone to protect the children better from hate an bullies. Edit: It's good that you are aware and find information that is biased towards either side, it's not always easy to notice. And I like you support Ukraine and the road towards peace in Europe.

[@thearkei2943]

fck russia

[@ivanjugovic346]

Omg😢😢😢

[@Fenrir.Gleipnir]

She will not be treated like that in Scandinavia. Take her here, you and your family is welcomed.

[@Fenrir.Gleipnir]

Take her to Sweden she will fifth right in

[@GHOST-dl3ve]

😂😂 nice Czech 🤘🏻🤘🏻