The SSU has eliminated another draft evasion scheme in Chernihiv oblast.

Its organizer has been detained. She is the head of one of the city’s administrative service centres, who involved three other accomplices in the crime.

For USD 2,500 or more, they helped men evade mobilization using fake certificates for military personnel travelling abroad.

Then, using these counterfeits, the fraudsters provided their ‘clients’ with permits to travel abroad for permanent residence.

In this way, the criminals ‘made’ almost UAH 4 mln (USD 104,000) on mobilization evasion during the war.

To operate the scheme, the organizer and her accomplices used personal connections in the local military enlistment office and the migration service.

The SSU established that for ‘non-local’ clients, the ASC official personally ‘solved the issue’ of changing the registration address. This was necessary so that such evaders could be registered and then ‘written off’ through the local military commissariat.

Two of her accomplices were looking for ‘clients’ among potential recruits and acted as intermediaries to pass the money for corrupt ‘services’.

Another person involved is a criminal living abroad; he coordinated the group’s activities.

During the searches of the suspects’ homes and offices, the SSU found:

• proceeds of crime;
• fake certificates from the military enlistment office;
• computer equipment with evidence of the crime.

SSU investigators served all four individuals involved notices of suspicion under two Articles of the CCU:

• 114-1.1 (obstructing the lawful activities of the AFU and other military formations);
• 332.3 (illegal transfer of persons across Ukraine’s state border).

Three of the suspects are in custody without the right to be released on bail. Another suspect is hiding from justice abroad. He will be put on the international wanted list.

The SSU is checking the involvement of officials of local military enlistment offices and the migration service.

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

The operation was carried out under the procedural supervision of Chernihiv Region Prosecutor’s Office.