Men who are potentially dangerous and suspected of wanting to abuse vulnerable women are said to be trying to use deficiencies in checks in one of the two reception systems drawn up by the British government to host those fleeing Ukraine after the Russian invasion.

Alarm has been raised in relation to the Homes for Ukraine program, which was created to enable entrance into the UK of anyone invited by families, communities, or associations.

The problem is that many of the victims, instead of contacting sites set up specifically for this purpose by well-known organisations, seek help through Facebook groups, according to the BBC. Many of these groups seem to harbor men with a history of domestic violence, exploitation, and abuse.

Homes for Ukraine 'dangerous', says NGO

The BBC cited the example of men in their 40s who want to host only Ukrainian women in their 20s and 30s. "On a Facebook group set up to help match Ukrainian refugees, BBC News found one would-be sponsor, who appears to live in a one-bedroom flat, posting multiple offers to host young women," the UK public broadcaster reported on Wednesday (May 4).

"Someone who knew him well claimed he had multiple convictions, including for burglary and affray." The BBC added that some of the women who had arrived in recent weeks have now left these lodgings and were "homeless".

The Home Office of the government under Boris Johnson has said that it conducts "security and background checks on all sponsors, before visas are issued". However, several NGOs operating on the ground said that there are not enough safeguarding measures.

Homes for Ukraine is "dangerous", said Robina Qureshi, chief executive of Positive Action in Housing. Her organization would never place a woman with a single man, and the government, she told the BBC, "has created chaos, no risk checks, no due diligence."