The SSU Counterintelligence, jointly with the leadership of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the State Migration Service, shut down a large-scale scheme of mobilization evasion in Odesa oblast.

As a result of the operation, the SSU detained the head of a local district unit of the State Migration Service, two of his subordinates and an official of the regional division of the Administrative Services Centre.

The participants of the scheme set up a mechanism to obtain money from mobilization-aged men who are abroad and want to ‘remotely’ receive passports.

This allowed the men not to return to Ukraine, not register and not update their data in the Territorial Recruitment Centers.

The organizers produced passports for these individuals with a gross violation: without the physical presence of these persons in the state institution.

To issue the IDs, the State Migration Service officials took their own fingerprints and used a remotely sent photo to make the photo for the documents.

The passports were provided to the ‘clients’ through a network of intermediaries.

The cost of such services ranged from USD 500 to USD 2,500, depending on the urgency.

During 57 searches of the suspects’ homes and offices, the following was seized:

• over USD 300,000 and EUR 60,000, likely obtained by criminal means;
• almost 200 seals and stamps used in the crime.

According to the investigation, the fraudsters received orders for ‘remote preparation’ of over 150 passports.

Based on the evidence, the SSU served notices of suspicion to three officials of the State Migration Service (they have now been dismissed), one employee of Administrative Service Center, an intermediary and another participant in the scheme under Articles 28, 114-1.1 of the CCU (obstruction of lawful activities of the AFU and other military formations, committed by a group).

The investigation is ongoing. The suspects face up to 8 years in prison.

All documents issued in violation of the law will be cancelled in accordance with the procedure.

The operation was carried out under the procedural supervision of the Prosecutor General’s Office.