Prosecutors in the Kyiv region have announced the arrest of an international group accused of recruiting and exploiting Uzbek citizens. Among those detained are two Chinese nationals, one Uzbek citizen, and a Ukrainian woman.
According to investigators, the group targeted socially vulnerable individuals through deception and coercion. Thirteen Uzbek citizens were taken abroad and transported to the Kyiv region, where they were subjected to forced labor under strict control.
Investigators note that the victims lacked housing and stable income, making them easy targets for exploitation. Control was enforced by restricting their freedom of movement and through threats. Even access to restrooms was regulated by a schedule, and minor violations resulted in fines.
Law enforcement carried out searches at the suspects’ residences and business sites. Documents, money, vehicles, and facilities where the Uzbek victims were held in inhumane conditions were discovered.
The four detainees have been charged under Ukraine’s human trafficking statute. A court will soon decide on preventive measures.
According to Ukraine’s National Police, the criminal scheme was led by a 51-year-old Chinese citizen with a Ukrainian residence permit. His accomplices included two other Chinese nationals, a Thai woman, and five Ukrainians. They recruited 13 Uzbek citizens aged 22 to 42 with promises of high wages. After arriving in Kyiv region, the victims were stripped of their passports, had their movements severely restricted, and were forced to work at an agricultural enterprise under harsh and degrading conditions.
The investigation is being conducted by the Kyiv regional police investigative unit, with support from the National Police Migration Department.
The Embassy of Uzbekistan in Ukraine stated that all 13 citizens held at a greenhouse in the Kyiv region are safe and have been placed in a local hospital for medical care. The embassy stressed that the situation is under full control and steps are being taken to return the citizens home. A criminal case has been opened, and the suspects will face trial. The embassy also advised Uzbek nationals to refrain from traveling to Ukraine at this time.