A 33-year-old woman in St. Petersburg has been arrested and remanded in custody for allegedly torturing her six-year-old nephew, causing him severe injuries. Angelika Shaikhatarova is accused of systematically beating the child and subjecting him to psychological abuse, according to the United Press Service of the St. Petersburg Courts.

The abuse allegedly occurred from April of this year while Shaikhatarova acted as the boy’s guardian. The child was hospitalized in intensive care on June 4 with serious injuries, including a bruised brain and damage to internal organs, and subsequently underwent head surgery.

Shaikhatarova initially claimed the boy’s injuries were self-inflicted, alleging he fell, hit his head, and scalded himself with boiling water. However, investigators rejected her explanation, and she later admitted guilt after her arrest. The court has ordered her detention until August 4.

The child is currently on a ventilator in the hospital. Following his recovery, he will be placed in a social institution.