The Security Service of Ukraine jointly with the National Police and the Economic Security Bureau neutralized a criminal group that massively forged official Ukrainian documents in order to trade in them.

As a result of the operation in several regions of our country, four organizers of the illicit ‘printing houses’, which operated in Kyiv and Prykarpattia oblasts, were apprehended.

Every week, the perpetrators produced hundreds of fake documents, including certificates and reports of Military Medical Commissions on ‘poor’ health of persons liable for military service.

The organizers offered the fake papers to potential conscripts who were trying to evade mobilization. The cost of forgeries ranged from USD 500 to USD 5,000 depending on the type.

According to preliminary conclusions, the average monthly ‘profit’ of the crime ring was up to UAH 3 million.

The investigation established that the group was organized by a resident of Vinnytsia region. He involved 3 of his acquaintances from Kryvyi Rih, Ivano-Frankivsk and Cherkasy. One of the criminals already had a criminal record for forgery.

For serial production of fakes, they purchased the necessary office equipment, including devices for printing on plastic cards.

The members of the group sent the documents to ‘customers’ via postal services and accepted payments on crypto wallets and bank cards.

To find ‘clients’, they used personal connections and offered their ‘services’ on specially created Telegram channels.

During the searches of the suspects’ homes, the SSU found forged documents, stamps and seals, mobile phones, computers and draft records with evidence of the crimes.

Four individuals involved have been declared suspects under two Articles of the CCU:

• 199.1, 199.2 (manufacture, storage, purchase, transportation, transfer of holographic security elements, committed upon prior conspiracy);
• 358.3 (forgery of documents, seals, stamps and forms, sale or use of forged documents, seals, stamps committed by a group).

The investigation is ongoing to establish all the circumstances of the crime. Information about selling counterfeits to enemy agents is being checked.

The decision on measures of restraint is pending. The suspects face up to 10 years in prison with confiscation of property.

The operation was carried out by the SSU Office in Vinnytsia region jointly with the ESBU and the National Police under the procedural supervision of the regional Prosecutor’s Office.