As a result of special operations in several regions of Ukraine, the SSU blocked three channels of Ukrainian men of conscription age fleeing abroad.

More than 10 organizers of illegal trafficking were detained.

For money, they offered potential conscripts to leave Ukraine posing as volunteers.

The price of the ‘escape ticket’ was from USD 3,000 and higher. The sum depended on the urgency of departure and the client’s social status.

According to the investigation, one of Poltava region council members used the ‘services’ of illegal border crossing.

The investigation established that two residents of Poltava region were involved in the organization of the scheme. They ‘guaranteed’ men of call-up age unimpeded border crossing posing as drivers of a logistics organization transporting humanitarian goods.

To do this, the organizers entered false information into the Shliakh electronic system.

Another criminal group specializing in illegal transportation of citizens across the border was dismantled in Volyn region. The group included six locals.

By unlawfully ‘registering’ their clients as drivers in the Shliakh electronic system, they prepared several vehicles heading for the EU. The group managed to illegally take up to 100 people out of Ukraine.

Another channel of illegal migration was shut down in the Carpathian region. It was organized by three residents of Ivano-Frankivsk and Lviv oblasts.

They offered potential conscripts fictitious documents of members of non-existent charitable foundations.

The SSU detained the offenders when they attempted to illegally ‘escort’ 5 people across the border.

Investigations are ongoing. Criminal proceedings were initiated under the Articles of the Criminal Code of Ukraine:

• 332 (illegal transportation of persons across the state border of Ukraine);
• 358 (forgery of documents, seals, stamps and forms, sale or use of forged documents, seals, stamps).

Seven persons involved in organizing the channels have already been notified of suspicion. Court is to decide on custody as a measure of restraint for the suspects.

The SSU Offices in Poltava, Volyn and Ivano-Frankivsk regions carried out the operations under the procedural supervision of the Prosecutor’s Office.