As we enter the 5th year since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the war continues to devastate millions of lives and force people to flee. Over 5.8 million refugees from Ukraine are currently recorded globally, around 90% of whom are in Europe.
Since February 2022, the EU’s swift activation of the Temporary Protection Directive (TPD) has provided essential rights, including immediate legal status and access to work, housing, education, healthcare, and social support. Around 6.9 million people fleeing Ukraine have been granted Temporary Protection in the EU, with around 4.35 million still benefitting from it. This coordinated response has significantly reduced exposure to exploitation and human trafficking and demonstrated the value of safe and regular pathways in times of crisis.
But, legal status alone does not remove vulnerability. La Strada International’s case-based assessments show that exploitation has persisted even among people benefitting from Temporary Protection. LSI members have documented exploitation across labour sectors including construction, domestic work, agriculture, hospitality and manufacturing, as well as patterns of deception about wages and working conditions, withheld pay, unsafe environments, and coercion and abuse.
“Currently in Ukraine the war is one of the main drivers of exploitation and trafficking. Many refugees have no home to return to, as entire cities, like Mariupol and Bakhmut, have been destroyed by the Russian attacks. Rebuilding a life from nothing is difficult for anyone, but especially for older people. When people lose everything and face financial insecurity, they become far more vulnerable to exploitation and are more easily drawn into abusive situations through deception and false promises.”
Olga Dunebabina, La Strada Ukraine
The EU Temporary Protection framework is currently set to expire on 4 March 2027. While extensions have provided short-term stability, the continued “temporary” nature creates uncertainty for millions trying to rebuild their lives. As discussions on next steps evolve, any transition must avoid creating gaps that push people into irregularity and renewed exposure to exploitation.
Clear, durable and accessible solutions towards integration in host countries and/or safe and voluntary return are essential to reduce risks of exploitation and further abuse.
La Strada International has also co-signed the statement: “Responding to Cross-Border Risks & Ensuring International Protection for Unaccompanied and Separated Children from Ukraine in Europe” together with over 35 other organisations. The statement calls for urgent action to protect unaccompanied and separated children and young people displaced from Ukraine as Europe discusses the future of temporary protection and longer-term pathways.
Four years into the war, cross-border movement is increasingly compounding risks: children and young people may fall off the radar of child protection systems, face higher risks of going missing, exploitation and human trafficking, and experience disrupted education, housing and continuity of care.