Inserts: 

00:03 Report by Nimisha Jaiswal 
00:16 Karnail Singh, Migrant worker
01:20 Abdul, Migrant worker 
02:42 Vasyl Voskoboinyk, Ukrainian Association of International Employment Agencies 
04:18 Vadym Komov, Manager

Script:

00:02 

((Shots of worker)) 

It's been two years since Karnail Singh moved to Ukraine. He's not new to working abroad - he spent 16 years working as a driver in Oman. But things are different this time. 

00:15 

SOT Karnail Singh, Migrant worker 

I’ve come here alone. My wife and three children are at home [in India]. (patch) I haven’t been home even once since I moved here. When I worked in Muscat, I visited home every 6-8 months. (patch) I will go, it's up to god when I get to go. 

00:37 

((Shots of workers)) 

Singh is among 21 Indian workers at this production firm in the western Chernivtsi region. None of them have been home since they moved here - with no flights out of Ukraine, transiting through a neighbouring country is too expensive, and time-consuming.  

00:55 

((Shots of workers)) 

Chernivtsi has so far been relatively unaffected by the war, and the workers say they aren't afraid. The wages here are far higher than in India. Many here paid over 5,000 Euros to an Indian agent to get here - they would have to pay more than twice as much to move to western Europe. It's not a simple choice. 

01:17 (starts off camera) 

SOT Abdul, Migrant worker 

I’d tried to work elsewhere, I’d applied to go to Canada but they refused to give me a visa, as did Australia. I’ve now been here for 15 days. The financial situation at home is not good, so I had to come here.  

01:32 

((Shots of Indian workers)) 

These men are among around 9,500 migrant workers registered in Ukraine as of May 2026. 

01:39 

Yet, AI-generated images and headlines like these warn of an onslaught of millions of migrant workers, while Ukrainian men die on the frontlines. 

Disinformation experts say these could well be a product of Russian propaganda, looking to sow outsized fears around a real economic issue. 

1:58 - breathe protest 

02:00 

((Shots of protests)) 

But fears around immigration seem to have some resonance online, and in small protests like this one in Kyiv.  

02:07 - starts off camera 

Vox 1 

We are absolutely opposed to this migration of people from third countries who will not assimilate, who will not learn our language and culture.   

02:17 - starts off camera 

Vox 2 

If we let this happen, we’ll lose our country. These are people who have neglected their own country, so, naturally, they certainly won’t look after ours.  

02:30 

((Shots of protest)) 

The organizers of this protest say they are not falling for Russian propaganda. They argue this is not about race, but about prioritizing Ukrainian workers over immigrants. But experts say it might not be so simple. 

02:43 - starts off camera 

SOT Vasyl Voskoboinyk, Ukrainian Association of International Employment Agencies   

To put it simply, I’m sure that even those people who were at this protest, if they were offered a job on a building site instead of working in a warm office, I don’t think any of them would agree to that job.   

03:00 

((Shots of streets)) 

Ukraine faces structural unemployment - many of those seeking work do not want to do the kinds of jobs available. Yet serious deficits persist. 

03:09 

SOT Vasyl 

There is an exodus of millions of people abroad, mobilisation, a complex demographic situation. Every year the number of elderly people increases, and fewer and fewer children are being born. And in such circumstances, Ukrainian business needs a workforce, and we need ordinary blue-collar workers. There is a shortage of builders, welders, plumbers, bricklayers, energy workers.  

03:38 

((Shots of women workers, then migrant workers)) 

The government says it is retraining women, veterans and internally displaced Ukrainians to fill the gaps, but businesses say it's not enough. There's no influx of foreign workers either -  

03:51 

((graphic)) 

The number of migrant work permits issued by Ukraine has fallen sharply since the start of the war. And even these don't represent the actual numbers, 

03:59 

((shots of workers)) 

as many permits are cancelled over bureaucratic checks and hurdles.  

04:03 

((Shots of Ukrainian workers, of women and elderly workers, then migrants)) 

At the firm we visited, over 90 percent of the workers are Ukrainian - we're told they were prioritised to fill the vacancies caused by the war. Yet, the firm has had to hire some migrant workers in the last two years to meet production targets.  

04:18 starts off camera 

SOT Vadym Komov, Manager 

Ukraine comes first for us. And for Ukraine, undoubtedly one of the most important aspects is the economy. (patch) Our experience shows that bringing in migrants does not do any harm, neither for the local community nor for manufacturers. 

04:41 

((Shots of Chernivtsi)) 

Away from the protests, opinions on migrant workers are more mixed. 

Voxes  

04:46 

The main thing for me is that they behave themselves and follow the rules of conduct. And then everything will be fine; we’re a normal, friendly place.  

04:55 

It’s good for the economy, because many have died and can’t do this work. It’s good for the economy, but yes, there are pros and cons.  

05:07 

((Shots of men in kitchen cooking, talking in Ukrainian)) 

The Indian workers we met say they try to create a sense of home here in Ukraine - food helps, as do regular calls home. But staying away from loved ones is a high price to pay, making other European countries a more appealing destination. Ukraine will likely have to contest with that - with no end to the war in sight, experts warn the need for migrant workers is expected to rise, possibly leaving fertile ground for more Russian propaganda. 

05:34 - VO ends 

05:37 - shots end