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

For sums of up to USD 16,000, they offered conscripts the opportunity to evade conscription through forged documents or helped them flee abroad.

In Kyiv, an organiser was caught red-handed for setting up a transregional channel for illegal border crossing by the draft dodgers.

According to the investigation, the ‘clients’ were first gathered into a group, covertly transported to the western border, and then smuggled to the EU outside of checkpoints.

The investigation is underway to bring all the participants of the criminal scheme to justice.

In Cherkasy region, the deputy dean of one of the region’s universities was detained for accepting bribes to enroll draft evaders in her university in order to obtain a deferral from mobilisation. The official also ‘solved’ the issue of passing the exams as her ‘clients’ did not attend the educational institution.

A dealer who traded in fake medical certificates of disability group 2 was also exposed in the region. To produce the forgeries, he enlisted the help of acquaintances who were members of an Expert Team for Functionality Assessment.

In Poltava region, three medical officials, including a doctor from an Expert Team, were uncovered for unjustifiably extending disability periods to help men evade conscription.

In Ivano-Frankivsk region, another perpetrator, who is already under investigation for involvement in draft dodging schemes, has been apprehended.

While under house arrest, he continued to smuggle conscripts to neighbouring European countries. The law enforcement detained him when he was transporting a deserter.

Two employees of a local Territorial Recruitment Centre, who organised the ‘transfer’ of conscripts to the EU through mountainous terrain, were also served notices of suspicion.

In Bukovyna, the law enforcement agencies detained a foreign truck driver who was transporting evaders across the border in the luggage compartments of his truck.

In Rivne region, a driver from the Volyn City Council was exposed for using his own car to transport conscripts to the border for further escape to the EU.

In Odesa region, a dealer has been apprehended for organising the traffic of potential conscripts to Moldova outside checkpoints. He was caught red-handed when he received an advance payment from the evaders.

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

• 332.3 (illegal transportation of persons across the state border of Ukraine);
• 27.5, 368.3 (aiding and abetting in obtaining unlawful benefits by an official, committed upon prior conspiracy, by a group);
• 369-2.3 (abuse of influence).

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

The operations were carried out under the procedural supervision of the Prosecutors’ Offices.