The Security Service of Ukraine and the National Police have dismantled new mobilization evasion schemes in several regions of Ukraine.

The individuals apprehended as a result include officials of medical and social expert commissions and hospitals. For bribes of USD 2,000 to 10,000 they helped men evade military service using forged medical certificates.

In Kropyvnytskyi:

A surgeon, a member of a Military Medical Commission, has been detained after he received a bribe for unreasonably declaring a conscript unfit for service.

In Dnipropetrovsk region:

The head of a local hospital department was exposed on taking bribes for diagnosing serious illnesses in close relatives of military-aged men. This allowed them to evade mobilization and go abroad.

In Kharkiv region:

Another official of a Medical and Social Expert Commission, a participant in a large draft evasion scheme uncovered by the SSU in October this year, has received a notice of suspicion.

While working as a rehabilitation doctor, she falsified the medical records of her ‘clients’ to assign a fake disability status.

The persons involved in the schemes have been notified of suspicion (in accordance with the crimes committed) under the Articles of the CCU:

• 28.2, 114-1.1 (obstruction of lawful activities of the AFU and other military formations, committed by a group, upon prior conspiracy);
• 368.3 (acceptance of an offer, promise or receipt of an illegal benefit by an official, in a large amount);
• 358.3, 358.4 (forgery of documents, use of forged documents committed by a group, upon prior conspiracy);
• 369-2.3 (abuse of influence).

The suspects face up to 10 years in prison with confiscation of property.

The operations were carried out by the SSU Offices in Kharkiv, Kirovohrad and Dnipropetrovsk regions jointly with the National Police under the procedural supervision of Nikopol District Prosecutor’s Office, the Specialized Defence Prosecutor’s Office of the Southern Region and Kharkiv Region Prosecutor’s Office.