The Security Service and National Police of Ukraine have uncovered 5 new schemes for evading mobilization that operated in the central, southern, and western regions of the country. As a result of these comprehensive measures, individuals involved in forgery to avoid conscription or smuggling draft evaders across the border were apprehended.

In Cherkasy, a 48-year-old deputy dean of a local university was arrested for accepting bribes to enroll evaders in his institution. While serving on the admissions committee, he unjustifiably awarded clients with passing scores on entrance exams, allowing them to obtain deferrals from mobilization.

In the Zolotonosha district, another suspect, a 33-year-old resident, was detained. He is already under investigation for similar offenses. While under house arrest, this recidivist continued to sell fake medical certificates of disability to evaders, involving acquaintances among doctors for the forgeries.

In Mykolaiv, police arrested a man from Odesa who was transporting conscripts to the southwestern border. Evaders were then offered a “transfer” to a neighboring country in the cargo area of a truck that was exporting food products.

In Poltava, a 56-year-old resident of Kremenchuk was detained for producing fake “reservation” certificates at his printing house. Additionally, a 44-year-old unemployed man was arrested in the regional center for leaking geolocations of military enlistment offices and the police in Telegram channels.

In Lviv, a dealer was apprehended for selling a “safe” route for fleeing abroad through a local checkpoint. Furthermore, the perpetrator promised clients to remove them from the military search list.

All suspects have been notified of their charges under three articles of the Criminal Code of Ukraine:

•  Part 3 of Article 332 (illegal transportation of persons across the state border);
•  Part 1 of Article 114-1 (obstruction of legal activities of the Armed Forces and other military formations during a special period);
•  Part 3 of Article 369-2 (abuse of influence).

The criminals are in custody and face up to 9 years in prison with property confiscation. The operations were conducted by the SBU in Cherkasy, Mykolaiv, Poltava, and Lviv regions together with the National Police under the procedural guidance of regional prosecutors.