Under the supervision of the Kyiv regional prosecutor's office, two citizens from the People's Republic of China, one from Uzbekistan, and a Ukrainian woman were arrested for recruiting and trafficking 13 citizens from Uzbekistan for labor exploitation (Part 2 of Article 149 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine).
According to the investigation, the suspects used coercion and deception to recruit socially vulnerable individuals who were in a precarious situation due to lack of housing and employment.
Victims were sought outside Ukraine and transported to the Kyiv region for forced labor to generate profit.
Control was maintained through coercion and restriction of freedom, indicating the exploitative nature of their actions. People were humiliated to the extreme: even using the restroom was only allowed according to a strict schedule, and any minor infraction resulted in penalties.
On September 17, 2025, law enforcement conducted sanctioned searches at the residences and business locations of the suspects. They discovered premises where 13 citizens of Uzbekistan were held under inhumane conditions, as well as documents, cash, and vehicles.
Four detainees have been informed of their suspicion of committing a particularly serious crime, and a decision is pending regarding preventive measures.
The preliminary investigation is being conducted by the investigative department of the Main Directorate of the National Police in the Kyiv region, with operational support from the Department of Migration Police of the National Police of Ukraine.