The SSU has shut down another two mobilization evasion schemes.

In Kherson:

The SSU detained a deputy head of a local military registration and enlistment office, who helped persons liable for military service to evade the draft using fictitious documents.

The price for corrupt ‘services’ ranged from USD 4,500 to 6,000.

For the bribes, the official would remove a person from the military register as ‘unfit’ for military service due to health reasons. To do this, he entered appropriate notes to the personal files of his ‘clients’.

Then, the evaders used counterfeit documents to illegally depart from Ukraine.

To operate the scheme, the official involved an intermediary who looked for clients and handed over their money.

The SSU documented 8 episodes of the unlawful activity and detained both offenders ‘red-handed’ on receiving another bribe.

They were notified of suspicion under Article 368.3 of the CCU (acceptance of an offer, promise or receipt of an unlawful benefit by an official). The court chose custody as a measure of restraint.

In Ivano-Frankivsk region:

The SSU detained the head of a district military medical commission for selling fictitious certificates of deferral of conscription due to ‘poor’ health.

To arrange the certificates, the official entered ‘severe diagnoses’ into the medical examination reports. On average, falsifying documents cost USD 2,000 per person.

Based on the collected evidence, the commission head was served a notice of suspicion under two Articles of the CCU:

• 332.3 (illegal transfer of persons across Ukraine’s state border);
• 368.3 (acceptance of an offer, promise or receipt of an unlawful benefit by an official).

Investigations are underway. The suspects are facing up to 10 years in prison with confiscation of property.

The SSU Offices in Kherson and Ivano-Frankivsk regions carried out the operations jointly with the National Police under the procedural supervision of the Specialized Defence Prosecutor’s Offices of Southern and Western regions.