The Security Service of Ukraine and the National Police have blocked four new schemes for evading mobilisation and uncovered seven organisers of these schemes in the capital and western regions of Ukraine.

For sums from USD 2,000 to 13,000 they offered conscripts the opportunity to evade military service through forged documents or helped them flee abroad outside of checkpoints.

In Kyiv, a 44-year-old man has been notified of suspicion. He used his acquaintance, a doctor, to provide ‘clients’ with fictitious guardianship over elderly people.

The law enforcement detained the perpetrator and his accomplice when they received money from a conscript.

In Zakarpattia, two more suspects were uncovered: they sold fake certificates of ‘serious illness’ to draft dodgers.

The scheme was organised by a repeat offender, who already has a criminal record for drug offences, and his accomplice, an infectious disease doctor who forged diagnoses.

In Lviv region, a member of the expert commission for assessing daily functioning of individuals (formerly MSEC) has been detained for facilitating the extension of disability groups for travel abroad in exchange for bribes.

Two organizers who arranged the smuggling of draft evaders to the EU outside of checkpoints were also apprehended in the region. The detentions were carried out after the perpetrators received the money for organising the escape.

The perpetrators have been notified of suspicion, according to the offences committed, under several Articles of the CCU:

• 332.3 (illegal transportation of persons across the state border);
• 366.1 (official forgery);
• 368.1, 368.3 (acceptance of a proposal, promise or receipt of unlawful benefits by an official);
• 369-2.3 (abuse of influence).

The suspects face up to 10 years in prison with confiscation of property.

The operations were carried out by the SSU regional offices in cooperation with the National Police under the procedural supervision of the Prosecutors’ Offices.