A Ukrainian worker living in Germany has sparked an online debate after publicly describing her local female colleagues as hypocritical and fake.
Writing on the social media platform Threads under the handle maanoilenko, the woman said her experience working in an international team dominated by German women came as a total surprise.
Although many Ukrainians view Germany as a country with exemplary organization, lawfulness, and decency, the worker stated that personal qualities matter far more than nationality.
She explained that while she had previously worked in all-female teams in Ukraine and in international groups, she could not stomach falseness or colleagues who smiled to her face while behaving differently behind her back.
The worker added that she missed Ukrainian people, their mentality, and their sense of humor, stating that while bad people exist everywhere, Ukrainians are the best.
Passive aggression and workplace tensions
Her post triggered widespread discussion among social media users, with opinions divided between those who shared similar experiences and those who defended local work culture.
One commenter wrote that strict laws and societal pressure to suppress aggression against foreigners force some locals to resort to passive aggression. She listed tactics such as mispronouncing foreign names, refusing to greet colleagues, reporting workers to management, withholding meeting details, and using subtle aggressive language.
Another immigrant woman supported the post, stating that several local colleagues deliberately refused to greet her during her first year in Germany because she was an immigrant.
Reactions and workplace dynamics in other countries
Other respondents argued that workplace conflict and drama are universal rather than specific to Germany. One commenter noted that after working at a single company in Ukraine for 22 years, she had witnessed intrigue, gossip, ambition, personal hostility, and betrayal.
Another user suggested that the author visit areas where Ukrainian expatriates live, predicting that her nostalgic feelings would vanish quickly.
Wider challenges faced by Ukrainian emigrants
The discussion reflects broader reports regarding the challenges faced by Ukrainians living abroad. Ukrainian news agency UNIAN previously reported on a Ukrainian woman who decided to leave Wroclaw, Poland, for Spain after four years, citing bureaucracy, deportation risks, societal tension, high rent, job shortages, traffic congestion, and air pollution.
In another report, a Ukrainian woman living in Norway posted a TikTok video showing what can be purchased on the country's minimum wage to illustrate local living costs.
