In Lviv region, entrepreneur suspected of 23 years of labor exploitation of a man
Kyiv • UNN
In Lviv region, a businessman was exposed who had exploited a man for food for over two decades. The victim was freed from a metal container at the age of 71.
In the Lviv region, law enforcement officers uncovered a case of long-term labor exploitation of a person. In the city of Horodok, a local entrepreneur was notified of suspicion of human trafficking. This was reported by the Office of the Prosecutor General, according to UNN.
According to the investigation, in 2002, a woman approached the entrepreneur asking for help for her brother to find a job and housing. The man was then 47 years old and had problems with alcohol. The suspect offered work around the house with pay and accommodation, but these conditions later effectively ceased to apply.
Details
The investigation established that at first the victim could still move around and visit relatives, but over time he was deprived of such an opportunity. For the work performed, he received no money — only food, cigarettes, and a place to live.
The man performed heavy physical labor: he helped with construction, chopped wood, mowed grass, worked in the garden, looked after animals, and guarded the farm's territory.
According to the prosecutor's office, the living conditions were inadequate: initially, he lived in an outbuilding without proper heating, water, and sanitary conditions, and later in a metal container without windows, electricity, and water supply.
If he was dissatisfied with his work, the suspect used physical force, insulted, and humiliated the man.
The victim remained in such conditions for 23 years. He was released in September 2025 after migration police officers received information about possible exploitation.
The man is now 71 years old. Doctors recorded chronic diseases, hand injuries, missing teeth, and a deterioration of his psycho-emotional state. He is currently in a geriatric boarding house, where he receives the necessary assistance.