In Chernivtsi region, the SSU and the National Police have dismantled a criminal group that set up a channel for illegal departure of men of military age from Ukraine. For money, they led draft evaders to a neighbouring European country through prepared forest trails.

The gang members ‘earned’ over USD 100,000 per month.

To persuade potential conscripts to flee abroad, they ‘guaranteed reliability of the routes’ bypassing checkpoints.

In addition, the head of the criminal group promised the men ‘protection’ if they were caught when illegally crossing the state border.

The SSU documented the gang’s actions and detained its organizer along with four of his accomplices.

According to the investigation, the group was created by a 44-year-old resident of Bukovyna, who involved several of his acquaintances. One of them has been previously convicted for multiple serious crimes.

Through connections, they looked for ‘clients’ and offered them assistance in fleeing abroad.

The ‘services’ cost between USD 3,000 and 5,000, depending on the urgency.

This amount included advising the men on how to behave when crossing the state border covertly and escorting them to a neighbouring country.

During over 20 searches of the suspects’ homes and cars, the following items were seized:

• mobile phones, SIM cards, records with evidence of the crime;
• large amounts of cash, probably proceeds of crime.

The detained individuals have been served notices of suspicion under Article 332.3 of the CCU (illegal transfer of persons across Ukraine’s state border, committed by an organized group).

The court is to decide on custody as a measure of restraint. The suspects are facing up to 9 years in prison with confiscation of property.

The operation was carried out jointly with the National Police under the procedural supervision of the Prosecutor General’s Office.