Organised Crime Shifts as Ukraine War Fuels New Threats

Anti-Trafficking campaign on Kyiv Metro. (file)

Almost four years after Russia’s full-scale invasion, criminal groups in Ukraine are adapting their operations amid mass displacement, rising trafficking risks, and increased demand for synthetic drugs, the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) said in a report published on Friday.

Since February 2022, both legal and illegal economies in Ukraine have been severely disrupted by the ongoing war.

The report examines how organised crime structures in the country are evolving, focusing on six key areas: drug trafficking and production, online scams and fraud, arms trafficking, economic crimes, human trafficking, and the facilitation of illegal border crossings and draft evasion.

“The war has not only inflicted untold suffering on the Ukrainian people, but has also triggered a marked evolution in organised crime – which can have profound implications for the country’s recovery and reconstruction,” said Angela Me, Chief of Research and Analysis at UNODC.

While the trafficking of cocaine and heroin through Ukraine has declined since 2022, the production and distribution of synthetic drugs, such as cathinones and methadone, have increased.

The growth of cathinone trafficking has been facilitated by the darknet, particularly via platforms like Hydra, which was dismantled in April 2022.

Methadone production remains largely for domestic consumption, as demand within Ukraine continues to rise.

The war has led to a surge in weapon availability, driven by the influx of arms from the battlefield. This surplus has contributed to rising arms seizures and increased violence among civilians, including domestic and intimate partner violence.

Although there is no current evidence of large-scale arms trafficking outside Ukraine, UNODC stresses the need for vigilance, given the large volume of weapons and the historical presence of regional arms traffickers.

While drones have not yet been used in non-military contexts, the use of civilian drones and 3D-printed components for frontline attacks could potentially create new illicit markets, the report noted.

With around 14 million people displaced by the war, some criminal groups are exploiting vulnerable populations. Victims are lured into shelters or facilities posing as humanitarian aid providers, where they are subjected to forced labour.

While stricter border controls and the near-total closure of Ukraine’s eastern and north-eastern borders have curbed migrant smuggling, traffickers have shifted to facilitating draft evasion for Ukrainian men.

“Combating organised crime is essential to ensuring sustainable peace, justice, national security, and the protection of human rights,” said Matthias Schmale, UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Ukraine, affirming international support for Ukraine in tackling these challenges.