An illegal border crossing scheme involving a military officer was exposed in Zaporizhzhia.
Військовий ЗСУ організував схему незаконного переправлення через кордон/ Фото
A Ukrainian Armed Forces serviceman serving in the Zaporizhzhia region is suspected of organizing the illegal exit of a National Guard soldier from Ukraine across the state border outside of checkpoints.
This was reported by the Eastern Region Defense Prosecutor’s Office and the Office of the Prosecutor General .
According to the investigation, the serviceman organized the illegal transport of an NGU serviceman across the state border, bypassing checkpoints. He demanded $20,000 for his services.
In May 2026, the suspect arranged for the transfer via the Telegram messenger. The correspondence included a route and departure instructions, including clothing and further travel within Ukraine.
On May 30, they met in Dnipro, after which the suspect helped arrange the man’s departure from the city. During the trip, they discussed Uman as their final destination, where the money would be delivered.
After receiving $20,000, the accomplices were supposed to provide the National Guard soldier with civilian clothing and shelter for 2-3 days until a group of individuals could be formed who also planned to illegally leave Ukrainian territory.
He was subsequently to be given further instructions and assisted in crossing into Moldova. According to investigators, another trusted person was to meet him in Moldova.
During a check at a checkpoint, the suspect presented his military ID to avoid a thorough check, but he was exposed and detained that same day.
During the search, law enforcement officers seized $20,000, a mobile phone, documents, and a vehicle.
The court chose a preventive measure in the form of detention with the possibility of posting bail in the amount of 266,240 hryvnia.
The suspect’s actions are classified under Part 3 of Article 15 and Part 3 of Article 332 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine—an unfinished attempt to organize the illegal transportation of persons across the state border of Ukraine, directing such actions, and assisting in their commission for selfish motives.
Previously , Pryamyi reported that law enforcement in Zaporizhzhia uncovered a scheme to create fictitious disability status for conscripts and referred to court a case involving the illegal enrollment of men in graduate school to obtain a deferment from military service. According to investigators, the defendants could have earned over 250 million hryvnias through these two schemes.
The SBU and the National Police also dismantled eight draft evasion schemes in various regions of Ukraine and detained their organizers.
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