Up to $25,000 for avoiding mobilization: SBU exposes six schemes in different regions

According to law enforcement, the suspects asked for up to $25,000 for such “services.” They used forged documents, registered conscripts for fictitious jobs, and helped them cross the border illegally.

In Kyiv, SBU cyber specialists exposed the organizer of a scheme to illegally “book” conscripts through a network of fictitious IT companies operating in various regions of Ukraine.

According to the investigation, the woman, together with her accomplices, arranged for potential conscripts to work at non-existent enterprises in order to obtain a “deferral” from mobilization for them.

In the Lviv region, the SBU military counterintelligence exposed the head of one of the district CCCs, who, in exchange for bribes, entered false data about those liable for military service into the “Oberih” system.

The official used his own electronic signature to indicate in the register that the men were allegedly serving in the military. Law enforcement officers recorded such data being entered for 80 potential conscripts.

Two more residents of the Lviv region organized the illegal trafficking of men of military age to the EU.

One of them looked for “clients”, explained to them how to act, and coordinated their arrival at the border. His accomplice showed routes through the mountainous terrain. For such a “transfer” they asked from 14 to 25 thousand dollars.

In the Odessa region, SBU counterintelligence exposed a local resident who was helping to evade mobilization using fake medical reports.

For $16,000, he promised, through acquaintances at a local hospital, to organize “severe” diagnoses and fictitious disability groups for conscripts without a real medical examination.

In the Ternopil region, military counterintelligence and SBU investigators exposed the head of the local medical advisory commission and four of his accomplices.

According to the investigation, they made fake medical reports for relatives of conscripts. The documents indicated that they allegedly had serious illnesses and needed constant care.

In the Khmelnytskyi region, law enforcement officers detained a man who, for 15,000 euros, helped conscripts illegally travel to a neighboring EU country.

He drove clients to the border in his own car, and then explained how to cross the border on foot outside of the official checkpoints.

The detainees were charged under several articles of the Criminal Code of Ukraine: Part 1 of Article 114-1 — obstruction of the lawful activities of the Armed Forces of Ukraine during a special period; Part 2 of Article 28, Part 1 of Article 114-1 — the same offense committed by a group of persons in a prior conspiracy; Parts 1, 3 of Article 332 — illegal smuggling of people across the state border; Part 1 of Article 366 — official forgery; Part 3 of Article 362 — illegal actions with information in automated systems and computer networks; Part 3 of Article 369-2 — abuse of influence.

Those involved face up to nine years in prison with confiscation of property.