The Security Service of Ukraine and the National Police have uncovered more schemes aimed at evading mobilisation and detained 13 organisers operating in various regions of Ukraine.

For payments ranging from USD 5,000 to16,000 they offered conscripts assistance in evading military service by providing forged documents or facilitating their illegal departure abroad.

In Kyiv, an official from a military unit headquarters was exposed for ‘arranging’ the removal of draft evaders from the wanted list and registering them in rear units where they never actually served.

Also in the capital, a former employee of a Territorial Centre of Recruitment was detained after attempting to involve his former colleagues in illegally removing his ‘clients’ from military records.

In Vinnytsia region, law enforcement officers detained an employee of a pumping station who advised draft dodgers on how to cross the state border by wading through water bodies.

In Chernihiv, the head of a construction company was exposed for fictitiously employing conscripts in order to obtain mobilisation deferments for them.

In Lviv region, an unemployed resident and his accomplice were detained for selling fake medical certificates confirming alleged health problems.

Additionally, in Stryi district, an entrepreneur was detained. He promised, for a fee, to transport draft dodgers to the western border and show them routes for illegally crossing outside official checkpoints.

In Zakarpattia region, the SSU detained a deserter from Tyachiv district who, together with an accomplice, organised escape routes for draft evaders to the EU across the Tisa River.

In Berehove district, an entrepreneur and his associate were exposed for attempting to unlawfully arrange ‘demobilisation’ for acquaintances, allegedly through contacts in the Territorial Centre of Recruitment.

In Rakhiv district, a Kyiv resident and his accomplice were detained for transporting conscripts to the western border and guiding them along mountain routes leading to the European Union.

The detainees have been served notices of suspicion under the Articles of the CCU, including:

• 114-1.1 – obstruction of the lawful activities of the AFU during a special period;
• 332.3 – illegal transportation of persons across the state border of Ukraine;
• 368.3 – acceptance of an offer, promise, or receipt of unlawful benefits by an official;
• 369-2.3 – abuse of influence.

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

The operations were carried out by the SSU Regional Offices under the procedural supervision of the Prosecutor’s Offices.