As Russia’s invasion of Ukraine continues, verified reports show that refugees across Europe face rising risks of exploitation and labor abuse. While most host countries have offered protection, the systems built to shelter displaced Ukrainians have also inadvertently exposed some to coercive or exploitative conditions.

In the United Kingdom, the Homes for Ukraine sponsorship scheme has drawn particular scrutiny. A 2022 briefing by the Human Trafficking Foundation documented cases in which hosts demanded unpaid labor from Ukrainian guests in exchange for housing. One woman was reportedly made to work without pay after being placed in unsuitable accommodation.

The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) later warned that some women felt unsafe under the scheme and called for stronger vetting of hosts. The UK government subsequently instructed local councils to monitor for signs of exploitation and directed guests to report abuse through the Modern Slavery Helpline.

In Spain, exploitation has taken more overt forms. In January 2023, police dismantled three illegal tobacco factories where at least ten Ukrainian refugee workers were working long hours in poor conditions without contracts, according to AP News and the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP). Authorities considered trafficking charges but ultimately classified the case as severe labor exploitation, as the workers retained their documents and freedom of movement.

The following year, Europol announced arrests connected to sexual exploitation networks targeting Ukrainian women in Spain. Suspects had allegedly lured victims with false promises of visas and employment.

European governments have introduced measures to address these risks. The UK and Welsh governments now explicitly forbid the linking of accommodation with labor under sponsorship programs. Yet advocates say oversight remains limited and enforcement uneven. As the UNHCR has stressed, real protection for refugees must ensure not only physical safety but also “freedom from coercion, exploitation, and abuse.”

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