The Security Service of Ukraine and the National Police have shut down new schemes of mobilization evasion. Four organizers of the schemes have been detained, including a scientific consultant to a judge of the Constitutional Court of Ukraine.

According to the investigation, the official combined his work in a state institution with advocacy, which he used as a ‘cover’ to receive bribes from draft evaders.

He offered his ‘services’ to persons liable for military service under the guise of providing legal services, and to make himself more convincing he promised to use his personal connections in state institutions.

For USD 15,000 the organizer offered to remove the men from the wanted list in Territorial Recruitment Centers and to arrange a reservation from military service.

Another perpetrator was detained by the SSU Military Counterintelligence in Bukovyna region. She is a city council member who is also a neurologist and sold fake medical certificates about ‘poor’ health.

By purchasing such a fake, draft evaders hoped to be ‘written off’ from the military register and flee abroad.

In Poltava region, two officials of a Territorial Recruitment Center were exposed on bribes to enter fake data into the military registration system to obtain a deferral from conscription.

They entered the information into the system that the men passed the Military Medical Commission with a note that they were not on wanted list.

In Cherkasy, a 55-year-old businessman was detained. He offered evaders to hide from mobilization under the pretext of employment in a local agricultural company with a critical enterprise status.

The detained individuals have been notified of suspicion under two Articles of the CCU:

• 332.3 (illegal trafficking of persons across the state border of Ukraine, committed by an organized group);
• 369-2.3 (abuse of influence).

The suspects are in custody and face up to 9 years in prison with confiscation of property and deprivation of the right to hold certain positions.

The operations were conducted under the procedural supervision of the Prosecutor’s Offices.