Scammers are exploiting Russia’s war against Ukraine to deceive foreign men through elaborate romance schemes. Posing as Ukrainian women allegedly trapped in Russian-occupied territories, they establish emotional relationships and request money for fictional evacuation journeys, using forged documents, stolen photographs, and artificial intelligence to support their stories.
The findings were published in an investigation by The Kyiv Independent on October 16.
Journalists examined 58 cases referred by Helping to Leave, a nonprofit organization that assists civilians escaping Russian-occupied Ukrainian territories.
According to the organization, it has received approximately 200 requests over four years from foreign men seeking help to evacuate women they had met online. In many cases, the women’s stories turned out to be fabricated.
The scheme typically begins on international dating platforms. A woman claims to be trapped under Russian occupation, describes dangerous living conditions, and expresses a desire to reunite with her foreign partner. Eventually, she asks for money to cover transportation, documents, or other supposed evacuation expenses.
In one case, a man identified as Karsten paid €280 for what he believed was his girlfriend’s journey from occupied Donetsk to Kyiv. Journalists later discovered that the ticket he received was crudely forged.
While examining the 58 cases, investigators identified real women whose photographs had been used in 22 profiles. Two additional profiles appeared to feature AI-generated identities.
Scammers also supplied forged Ukrainian passports, fake travel documents, and fabricated financial penalties.
One such document falsely claimed that a woman had to pay a €2,500 fine for refusing to participate in the war. No such penalty exists under Ukrainian law.
The investigation highlights how scammers have turned the war into a tool of psychological manipulation, exploiting international sympathy for Ukrainians suffering under Russian aggression.
Source: The Kyiv Independent, October 16, 2026.
