The Security Service, the State Bureau of Investigation, and the National Police have blocked eight new draft evasion schemes and detained the organisers in several regions of Ukraine.

For sums of up to USD 25,000, they offered conscripts the chance to evade conscription through forged documents or helped them cross the border illegally.

In the Kyiv and Rivne regions, two perpetrators were exposed. They were falsely registering draft dodgers for inpatient treatment, followed by the issuance of medical certificates confirming severe illnesses – the disability groups 2 and 3.

To operate the scheme, its organisers engaged an acquaintance acting as an intermediary and seven doctors of various specialities from western Ukraine.

In the Bucha district, a commercial bank driver was detained for organising a ‘transfer’ of conscripts outside Ukraine.

Under the guise of business trips, he drove ‘clients’ to the western border and advised them on routes to cross it via forest trails.

In the Poltava region, a local lawyer has been declared suspect for using personal connections to unjustifiably write off men from military registration on health grounds.

Also in the region, another resident was detained for offering conscripts employment at a critical infrastructure enterprise with subsequent ‘reservation’.

In the Lviv region, the head of the medical service of a military unit was exposed for forging military medical commission conclusions regarding unfitness for service due to ‘serious diagnoses’. Nine other draft dodgers who used the official’s ‘services’ were also charged alongside her.

In Zaporizhzhia, a contract soldier and his accomplice were exposed for using a service vehicle to organise the illegal transfer of draft dodgers to Ukraine’s southwestern border outside of official checkpoints.

In Zakarpattia region, two border guards were caught red-handed after accepting bribes to let two cars carrying draft evaders through checkpoints.

In Kharkiv region, a former head of a local rehabilitation centre for drug addicts was exposed for offering potential conscripts a way to flee to the EU across the border with belarus.

The individuals involved have been notified of suspicion under several Articles of the CCU for the crimes committed:

• 114-1.1 (obstruction of the lawful activities of the AFU, during a special period, committed by a group, by prior conspiracy);
• 332.3 (illegal transportation of persons across the state border of Ukraine);
• 358.3 (forgery of an official document issued by an institution that grants rights and exempts from obligations for the purpose of its use by another person, committed by a group, by prior conspiracy);
• 27.5, 368.3 (aiding and abetting a public official in obtaining an unlawful benefit);
• 369-2.2, 369-2.3 (abuse of influence);
• 15.2, 27.5, 408.4 (completed attempt to aid and abet desertion under martial law);
• 27.5, 28.2, 409.4 (aiding a military servicemember in evading military service duties through deception, committed by a group, by prior conspiracy, under martial law);

The suspects face up to 12 years in prison with confiscation of property.

The investigation is ongoing to bring all those responsible to justice.

The operational and investigative actions were carried out under the procedural supervision of the Prosecutor’s Office.