The Security Service of Ukraine has dismantled a large-scale mobilization evasion scheme in Kyiv, organized by the founder of a well-known law firm in the capital and five of his accomplices: lawyers and their assistants.

As the investigation established, to profit from the draft dodging schemes the perpetrators formed a criminal organization.

For sums from EUR 6,500 to 45,000, the organizers sold potential conscripts and active military personnel fictitious certificates of disability of their relatives and the need to care for them.

Using such bogus documents, one category of ‘clients’ was discharged from service, while another received a deferral from mobilization.

Since the beginning of 2024, the organizers have unjustifiably ‘written off’ over 300 conscripts from eight regions of Ukraine from military registration.

The scheme worked as follows: the organizer provided fake medical certificates, while his accomplices sought out ‘clients’, met with them, received and handed over the money.

The law enforcement agencies detained all participants in the illicit mechanism.

A price list, forged certificates, and notes with evidence of the crime were found during the searches of the suspects.

SSU investigators notified the detainees of suspicion under several Articles of the CCU:

• 255 (creation, leadership of, and participation in a criminal organization);
• 28.2, 114-1.1 (obstruction of the lawful activities of the AFU, committed upon prior conspiracy, by a group, during a special period);
• 27.5, 336 (aiding conscripts in evading conscription during mobilization);
• 27.5, 409.4 (aiding a military serviceman in evading military service by forging documents and other fraud, committed under martial law).

The perpetrators face up to 12 years in prison with confiscation of property. The investigation is ongoing.

The operation was carried out by the SSU Office in Kyiv and Kyiv region under the procedural supervision of the Specialized Defense Prosecutor’s Office of the Central Region.