Ukraine cracks down on military draft evasion networks
The Ukrainian police have conducted over 600 searches as part of an operation targeting organisers of military service evasion activities. Sixty individuals have been issued crime suspicion notifications. Ukrainian authorities have reported on the most common desertion attempts and the inventiveness of the fugitives.
The Ukrainian police have intensified their actions against organisers of illegal escapes from military conscription. As part of the operation, more than 600 searches were carried out, and charges have been filed against 60 individuals.
Within 24 hours, law enforcement dismantled nearly 50 schemes for illegal border crossings in 22 regions of the country, according to the Ukrainian police.
Searches took place at the homes of hospital directors, members of medical commissions, and recruitment office employees. These individuals allegedly offered various methods of avoiding conscription, such as fake medical certificates and documents enabling exit from the country.
Illegal border crossing methods and escaping from the army
Popular escape methods have included crossing borders away from official checkpoints, for instance, through forests, by boat, in a wetsuit across a river, in a lorry's boot, or disguised in women's clothing. Potential clients were approached through closed channels on social networks, and fees for such services ranged from 5,000 to 22,000 dollars.
The Ukrainian authorities are introducing new measures against desertion, aiming to tighten their borders and enhance mobilisation regulations. Although these changes are overdue, they are effectively deterring illegal exits by individuals of conscription age. The utilisation of digital technologies and cooperation with Western partners is resulting in more effective border controls, making illegal crossings increasingly difficult.
Due to restrictions on men of conscription age, many individuals resort to risky escape attempts. Popular routes include crossing green borders into Romania, Moldova, and Hungary, forging medical documents, and obtaining fictitious certificates. Despite strict penalties, illegal exit from the country continues, with some even attempting to break through rivers or dense forests.
Avoiding conscription has also led to creative methods, such as disguising oneself as a woman or engaging in fictitious marriages with people holding second-degree disability status. There has also been a noticeable increase in attempts to bribe officials.
Penalties for deserters. Ukraine introduces new regulations
Suspects face sentences of up to nine years in prison. At the beginning of the year, Ukraine introduced new regulations, lowering the conscription age from 27 to 25 years to expedite mobilisation. The new law requires Ukrainians abroad to follow conscription information online and encourages them to return to the country.
Issues related to desertion also highlight corruption within state structures. Criticism of the elite is growing, and social discontent affects citizen engagement. While many Ukrainians are fighting and risking their lives on the front line, reports of conscription smuggling and corrupt military practices are becoming increasingly frequent. These challenges hinder the effective management of human resources in the army.
