A schoolboy has been hospitalized in critical condition after being set alight by bullies in
Ukraine.
Kyrylo Yatsun, eight, suffered horrific burns to 35 per cent of his body following the shocking incident which occurred in Dnipro, Ukraine's fourth-largest city.
The boy is said to have been playing in the courtyard near his apartment block when he was attacked by local bullies several years older than him.
The hooligans approached Kyrylo and doused his T-shirt with petrol before using their lighter to set him on fire, reports said.
The youngster's clothes immediately caught fire turning him into a human torch.
The terrified child fell on the ground screaming in pain while his attackers were laughing and fleeing the scene, witnesses said.
Some passers-by rushed to help the boy. They managed to take off his burning T-shirt and put out the fire before calling an ambulance.
He was then rushed to intensive care in critical condition and underwent several surgeries.
During the surgeries, doctors removed patches of damaged skin from his head, arms, torso and hips.
Over the last ten days, doctors have been fighting for Kyrylo's life, which is still in danger.
Police spokeswoman Anna Starchevskaya said: 'The suspects say that they did not intend to set the victim on fire and that it was an accident. The investigation is ongoing.'
It is understood that the attackers will be placed in a correctional facility for minors if found guilty.
Kyrylo will spend the next two months at the hospital. He faces numerous skin grafting surgeries and a long rehabilitation period after that.
