French hotel group Accor launches an internal investigation after allegations linked its hotels to the trafficking of Ukrainian children, while firmly denying any involvement in exploitation.
The company also appoints an external firm to examine the claims published by US-based Grizzly Research. The report triggers a sharp market reaction, with Accor shares falling more than 8% on the Paris stock exchange.
The allegations claim that more than 20 Accor hotels agreed to accommodate Ukrainian children who were allegedly destined to be illegally deported to Russia. Accor rejects the accusations, stating it has no involvement in “the alleged systematic exploitation of human or child trafficking,” and says it is conducting a thorough review of the claims. The company confirms that both internal and independent investigations are now underway.
The report by Grizzly Research alleges that researchers contacted more than 200 Accor hotels in early February 2026 with booking requests containing explicit references to child abuse and exploitation. According to the report, establishments in 20 countries accepted these requests, raising concerns about compliance and oversight across the group’s global operations.
Additional claims in the report include allegations that some Accor hotels in Russia were willing to host children linked to deportation schemes and that certain hotels in other countries facilitated prostitution. The report also alleges a connection between Accor CEO Sébastien Bazin and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Accor says it “firmly denies any involvement in the alleged systematic exploitation of human or child trafficking.” The company adds that it regularly trains its staff to identify signs of trafficking and carries out ongoing internal audits across its portfolio. It also states that it “reserves the right to take legal action against all those involved” if the allegations are substantiated.
Following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Accor suspended plans to open new hotels in Russia but chose to continue operating more than 50 existing properties, including Novotel and Ibis locations. The company says the decision was made to support employees working in the country.
The allegations come against the backdrop of broader concerns about the forced transfer of Ukrainian children during the war. Estimates suggest that at least 20,000 children have been deported from Ukraine to Russia and Belarus. The United Nations classifies such transfers as war crimes and crimes against humanity.
In March 2023, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Russian President Vladimir Putin and children’s rights commissioner Maria Lvova-Belova over the alleged illegal deportation of Ukrainian children.
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