The Security Service and National Police have dismantled six new draft dodging schemes in Ukraine and detained eight organizers.

For sums ranging from USD 5,000 to 20,000, they smuggled evaders abroad outside of checkpoints or provided fake documents to evade conscription.

In Chernihiv oblast, the head of a local college was detained for enrolling conscripts in higher education ‘on paper.’ In reality, the fake students never even set foot in the college.

In Poltava region, a surgeon and member of the military medical commission was exposed for selling fake medical certificates with serious diagnoses.

In Kyiv, another organizer who sought out draft evaders and then offered them routes to escape abroad via the ‘green’ border for money has been notified of suspicion.

In Kirovohrad region, the administrator of a Telegram channel who published the locations of mobile groups of Territorial Recruitment Centers and law enforcement officers has been exposed.

In Dnipropetrovsk region, another three perpetrators were detained. They transported ‘clients’ to Ukraine’s western border and smuggled them to the EU via forest trails.

One more organizer was apprehended in Volyn. He smuggled evaders through the forest to a neighbouring EU country.

The detained individuals have been notified of suspicion, according to the crimes committed, under several Articles of the CCU:

• 332.3 (illegal transportation of persons across the state border of Ukraine);
• 114-1.1 (obstruction of the lawful activities of the AFU, during a special period);
• 369-2.3 (abuse of influence).

The suspects are in custody and face up to 9 years in prison with confiscation of property.

The operations were carried out by the SSU regional offices together with the National Police under the procedural supervision of the Prosecutor’s Offices.