The Security Service and the National Police, in cooperation with the Minister of Defence of Ukraine, blocked four new schemes of conscription evasion in various regions of our country and exposed six schemes organisers.

For up to USD 8,000, the perpetrators offered conscripts the opportunity to avoid mobilisation via fake documents or helped them escape abroad beyond the checkpoints.

Thus, in the Transcarpathian region, the deputy head of one of the Ministry of Defence's military representative offices was suspected of organising conscripts' ‘transfer’ to the EU.

According to the case materials, the official used a service car with flashing lights to evade checkpoints and deliver clients to border sections where they could cross the border through trails.

Law enforcement officers detained the lieutenant colonel in Uzhhorod ‘red-handed’ while receiving money for transporting a client abroad.

In Kirovohrad region, three more individuals involved in the fake enrolment of mobilisation evaders in local universities were exposed. The students did not take entrance exams and did not attend educational facilities.

The scheme was organised by a mother and son, who engaged into the deal a lab assistant from a local university.

In Poltava region, the law firm owner who was offering relocation to units operating far from the front line based on fake diagnoses of serious illnesses was served a notice of suspicion.

She used her acquaintances among the officials of the military medical commission to issue fake certificates.

In Cherkasy region, a 22-year-old local resident was caught red-handed offering conscripts a deferral based on guardianship of persons with disabilities.

The suspects have been notified of the charges against them under several articles of the Criminal Code of Ukraine:

• Part 1 of Article 114-1 (obstruction of the lawful activities of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and other military formations during a special period);
• Part 3 of Article 332 (illegal transportation of persons across the state border);
• Part 5 of Article 27, Part 3 of Article 368 (‘assistance in accepting a proposal, promise or receiving unlawful benefits by an official’);
• Part 3 of Article 369-2 (‘abuse of power’).

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

Comprehensive measures were carried out by the SSU officers in Transcarpathian, Kirovohrad, Poltava and Cherkasy regions in cooperation with the National Police under the procedural guidance of the Cherkasy District Prosecutor's Office, Kirovohrad Regional Prosecutor's Office, Transcarpathian Specialised Prosecutor's Office in the field of defence of the Western region and Poltava Specialised Prosecutor's Office in the field of defence of the Central region.