It was revealed that the boy had been living in the apartment since he was just 7 years old. His only support came from sporadic financial help his mother occasionally sent. The apartment’s heating system had failed, forcing him to endure two brutal Russian winters without it.
Once the neighbors informed the authorities, the boy was taken to a hospital where he was treated for malnutrition and frostbite. Authorities are now searching for his mother.
While cases like this are rare, they are not unheard of, particularly in smaller towns where there is limited oversight and fewer resources available for vulnerable children.
