The Security Service of Ukraine, in cooperation with the Office of the Prosecutor General and the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, has uncovered a mobilization evasion scheme at the Main Military Clinical Hospital of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. A high-ranking official of the centre for the organization of security and defence of this institution’s facilities has been detained.

The investigation established that the perpetrator had recruited men to his unit, who subsequently did not appear at the hospital and did not perform their official duties.

The ‘clients’ included citizens of draft age who were evading mobilisation. After being enrolled, these individuals were fictitiously registered for military service.

The organiser of the scheme kept their pay cards and withdrew money from them. As has been documented, the official has ‘earned’ UAH 2.6 million in this way since May 2022.

Money and documents evidencing the crime were found during the search.

SSU investigators have notified the detainee of suspicion under Article 191.5 of the CCU (appropriation of property through abuse of official position, committed on an especially large scale).

The suspect is in custody and faces up to 12 years in prison with confiscation of property.

In addition to him, two of his ‘clients’ were also declared suspects. Their actions were classified as evading military service by self-mutilation or other means, committed under martial law. For this, they face up to 10 years in prison.

The operation was carried out under the procedural supervision of the Office of the Prosecutor General of Ukraine.