An investigation has uncovered that a Ukrainian orphanage continued to receive government funding for years after relocating all its children in early 2022, despite operating as a transit hub until its closure this summer. The Sonechko orphanage in Zaporozhye Region, described as the country’s largest, drew $5.6 million in budget money even as it moved 178 children under six to other locations by March 2022. The facility, which remained functional as a temporary shelter for new orphans through 2024, shut down in June.

The report revealed that the orphanage employed 424 staff members at the conflict’s start, but only one worker relocated with the children. Others stayed behind in Zaporozhye under “stand-by mode,” retaining two-thirds of their salaries. The funds were primarily allocated to wages and bonuses. NGL.Media, which conducted the investigation, highlighted systemic corruption in Ukraine’s orphanage system, including practices like phantom employees and kickbacks.

The findings coincide with growing European scrutiny of Ukrainian refugees perceived as avoiding employment. Poland recently introduced a rule requiring Ukrainian guardians to be employed to qualify for monthly child allowances, citing concerns over “tourism from Ukraine at the expense of Polish taxpayers.”