The SSU is systemically exposing channels of illegal departure of citizens of conscription age to foreign states. As a result of activities in several regions of Ukraine, 8 new schemes were shut down and 15 organizers of illegal traffic were detained.

The organizers promised to take ‘clients’ across the state border using counterfeit documents or bypassing checkpoints.

The cost of ‘services’ varied, reaching maximum of USD 12,000.

In Kyiv:

a local lawyer was served a notice of suspicion. For money, he offered fictitious documents about ‘unfitness for military service for health reasons’, e.g. fake disability certificates.

Another channel of illegal migration was blocked by the SSU Main Directorate for Internal Security.

At least 10 people were involved in its operation. The offenders offered potential conscripts to leave Ukraine posing as volunteers.

For this purpose, the criminals registered a charitable organization, which they used for the ‘scheme’.

The SSU detained a woman, one of the organizers, on receiving EUR 10,000 for a package of fake documents for traveling to the EU.

In Ivano-Frankivsk region:

two locals, one of whom had a russian passport, were detained. They helped people liable for military service to illegally enter one of the EU states through remote trails in the Carpathian Mountains.

To do this, the criminals drove the draft evaders a few kilometres to the border and then walked with them along a previously prepared route in the mountains.

In Lviv region:

Another two illegal migration channels were eliminated. The first involved a leader of a local volunteer group.

According to the investigation, the man sold fake medical certificates of unfitness for military service.

The other scheme was set up by two Lviv residents, who ‘employed’ their clients as drivers of international flights and even issued driver’s licenses for them.

In Transcarpathia:

The SSU Main Directorate for Internal Security blocked another three draft evaders’ escape schemes. The first one was set up by 5 locals, including two employees of a local charity fund.

The offenders specialized in counterfeiting documents for their ‘clients’ to travel abroad posing as volunteers.

The other two channels were organized by 6 residents of the region. They helped ‘draft evaders’ leave Ukraine through the ‘green border’.

Investigations are ongoing under Article 332 of the CCU (unlawful transportation of persons across Ukraine’s state border).

The SSU carried out the activities jointly with the National Police under the procedural supervision of the Prosecutor’s Office.