Desperate flight: Thousands of Ukrainians risk death to flee mobilization
About 11,000 Ukrainians illegally crossed the border with Romania in the north of the country to avoid mobilization after the full-scale Russian invasion began. Some die during the crossing through the river or mountains.
The Romanian service "Radio Liberty" reports data regarding Ukrainians, referring to information from the Romanian border guard. Florin Coman, the head of the border police in Sziget-Marmației, a city located in the north near the border, said that men aged 18 to 60 typically seek protection from Romanian authorities after crossing the border.
A representative of the Romanian border guard also said that after a slight decline in the number of refugees from Ukraine in 2023, the trend has intensified again since the beginning of this year.
From January to April 2024, there were 1,218 cases of illegal border crossings from Ukraine to Romania.
They died during the crossing through the river
At the end of April, in the river Tisza at the Ukraine-Romania border, the bodies of two men who likely drowned while attempting to cross the border illegally were found - reported the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine.
"Despite the reduced water level in the Tisza, crossing it is extremely dangerous, especially at night" – states the border guard's statement. "Sharp stones, roots, tree debris, and the swift and cold current may threaten life and health" was added.
According to the border guard, since the beginning of the full-scale war in Ukraine, 24 people have died attempting to cross the river.
The spokesman for this service, Andrij Demchenko, informed that law enforcement agencies have identified nearly 400 criminal organizations that help men of military age avoid military service by organizing their escape abroad.
The government of Ukraine is trying to increase military recruitment in anticipation of Russia's planned summer offensive. On May 18, at 00:00 GMT, a new mobilization law will come into effect in Ukraine, introducing changes to the current recruitment system, including expanding authorities' powers to issue military summons through an electronic system.
The government in Kyiv recently approved regulations according to which men aged 18-60 who wish to leave Ukraine or are abroad can only obtain a passport within the country.
