Ukraine is currently grappling with multifaceted schemes aimed at evading military mobilization, as revealed by recent investigations leading to multiple arrests across several regions.
The State Bureau of Investigations (DBR) has uncovered elaborate scams involving fake medical certificates, allowing individuals to bypass military service obligations. This underground operation primarily centered around Mykolaiv, where officials included members of local law enforcement and healthcare providers.
According to the DBR, the scheme operated by the involvement of a platoon commander, the head of the mobilization department, and the head of the medical advisory commission at the local hospital. These individuals allegedly produced fraudulent medical documents for those seeking to avoid conscription, charging up to $8,000 for these services. The operation commenced around the end of 2024 and was recently shut down after authorities caught the culprits during the exchange of the illegal fees.
"The suspects were arrested during the transfer of unlawful gains," the DBR reported. Following raids on their workplaces, pertinent documents were confiscated, facilitating the identification of others who may have utilized the forged documents.
Legal measures have escalated, with three officials facing charges under Article 368 of the Ukrainian Criminal Code, which involves obtaining illegal benefits. They now face possible imprisonment of up to ten years, highlighting the severe consequences of such actions.
Meanwhile, the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) has also been actively dismantling similar operations. Recently, they apprehended three women from Kirovohrad and Dnipropetrovsk who organized the illegal transport of conscription-age men across borders to EU countries.
These women reportedly charged around $15,000 to obtain fake medical exclusions based on fictitious conclusions from military medical commissions, enabling men to escape being drafted. They were caught red-handed as they received part of this fee for the provided documentation. "They were producing false medical certificates," noted the SBU.
The SBU executed 15 searches of the suspects’ residences and clients' homes, along with administrative buildings of military enlistment offices. They seized cash, fake documentation, and specialized equipment for forging these documents. Both regions are now under heightened scrutiny, with investigations continuing to assess potential complicity among military medical commission staff.
Another significant case unfolded in Zhytomyr, where authorities arrested an individual suspected of promising military-age men assistance to leave the country. The 44-year-old resident offered to manufacture fake documents declaring unfitness for military service and facilitate their illegal transit across the border.
Reportedly, during their transactional meetings, he quoted $20,000 for his services, including personally driving clients across the border to any EU country. He was arrested just as he finalized the deal. "The suspect was apprehended during the transfer of the agreed funds," law enforcement noted. Following immediate searches of his properties yielded significant evidence, including money, military documents, and numerous bank cards, substantiations of his criminal activities.
These incidents collectively paint a troubling picture of how some individuals attempt to manipulate the military mobilization process to evade service. "For 20 thousand dollars, the suspect offered fake medical certificates with 'fake' serious diagnoses," another report detailed.
Authorities are pursuing harsh penalties for these offenders. The penalties attached to these crimes range from seven to ten years of imprisonment depending on the severity of the offense, with possible property confiscation and prohibition from holding specific positions post-conviction.
The multifaceted approach of law enforcement helps dismantle these networks, underscoring the seriousness of evading military service, especially during times of national crisis. With more than 30 individuals reported associated with these schemes, the efforts to clamp down are gaining momentum. "The participants face up to ten years of imprisonment," law enforcement agencies affirmed, vowing to keep vigilance against such practices.
These illegal schemes not only compromise the integrity of military mobilization but also jeopardize public safety and security during heightened conflict periods. The authorities remain resolute as they confront the obstacles posed by these fraudulent operations in aid of national unity and compliance with militarization laws.