The director of a boarding school in Vinnytsia is suspected of exploiting his wards

In Vinnytsia region, law enforcement officers exposed the director of a local psychoneurological boarding school, who is suspected of forcibly involving wards in hard labor outside the institution. The man was reported on suspicion of human trafficking.

By data of law enforcement officers, from October 2025 to February In 2026, the head of the boarding school organized forced labor for the institution’s wards, who had disabilities and were in a vulnerable state. The investigation believes that he acted out of selfish motives.

Taking advantage of the helpless situation of the people and their complete dependence on the institution’s administration, the director sent them to perform agricultural work in the private households of local residents. According to the investigation, the wards dug up land plots, packed grain into bags and performed other physically difficult work.

Law enforcement officers conducted searches, during which they seized mobile phones, a laptop, medical and accounting documents, draft records and other physical evidence. The head of the boarding school was charged under Part 2 of Article 149 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine – trafficking in human beings. The sanction of the article provides for up to 12 years of imprisonment with possible confiscation of property.

The court chose a preventive measure for the suspect in the form of detention. At the same time, the possibility of posting bail in the amount of more than 332 thousand hryvnias is provided. The investigation is currently ongoing. Law enforcement officers are establishing the exact number of victims and checking whether other individuals could have been involved in the crime.

“The issue of removing the suspect from his position is being resolved,” the prosecutor’s office reported.