Ukrainian refugees exposed to sexual exploitation in the UK
The Times has found that Ukrainian refugees trying to find accommodation in the UK through private groups on social networks receive numerous messages from men offering help in exchange for sexual favours.
The newspaper journalist published a post on social networks on behalf of 22-year-old Natalia from Kyiv and received a large number of “obscene letters”. Within two days, 75 letters were received, 41 of them from presumed unmarried men.
Some of them claimed that they had a house with several bedrooms, although in reality they did not. Natalia was also offered to sleep in the same bed or began correspondence with a question about whether she was in a relationship.
A 43-year-old man said it wouldn’t help to get a visa for a girl who was not ready for “consensual” sex. At the same time, he claimed that he “passed all security checks.”
There were also reports raising concerns that refugees might be vulnerable to sexual exploitation.
As of April 7, the UK authorities received 79.8 thousand applications under the Ukrainian visa scheme.
