The Security Service of Ukraine and the National Police have blocked new schemes for evading mobilisation in Ukraine and detained its seven organisers.

For sums of up to USD 18,500, the organisers sold forged documents to men or smuggled them across the border to evade conscription.

In Kyiv, the law enforcement agencies uncovered the head of the Probation Centre district department, who provided draft evaders with fake documents on guardianship for ‘seriously ill relatives’. He involved his acquaintances – doctors – in this unlawful activity, and they ‘issued’ these fictitious certificates.

Another of his accomplices passed on the forged medical certificates to the Territorial Recruitment Centres to obtain deferrals from mobilisation for their ‘clients’.

In Kharkiv, three individuals were exposed for selling fake disability documents. To forge medical histories, they organised ‘hospitalisation’ for draft dodgers, followed by recording of their non-existent diagnoses.

Among those detained for organising this scheme was the head of the neurology department of a local medical institution, who falsified the medical certificates.

In Zakarpattia, two organisers were apprehended for smuggling draft evaders across the border. First, they gathered ‘clients’ in a local barn, and then accompanied them one by one to a neighbouring country on foot.

The individuals involved have been notified of suspicion, according to the offences committed, under the Articles of the CCU:

• 28.2, 114-1.1 (obstruction of lawful activities of the AFU, committed upon prior conspiracy, by a group);
• 332.3 (illegal transportation of persons across the state border);
• 28.2, 369-2.3 (abuse of influence, committed by a group, upon prior conspiracy).

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

The operations were carried out by the SSU regional offices jointly with the National Police and the State Border Guard Service under the procedural supervision of the Prosecutors’ Offices.