For money, the defendants moved the draft dodgers to a neighboring country through pre-prepared “forest paths.”
The Security Service and the National Police neutralized a criminal group in the Chernivtsi region that created a channel for the illegal departure of men of military age from Ukraine. The SBU press service reported this on November 20.
For the money, the defendants moved the draft dodgers to a nearby European country through previously prepared “forest paths.” Gang members received more than 100 thousand dollars in “income” per month.
In order to encourage those liable for military service to flee abroad, the attackers “guarantee the reliability of routes” past the checkpoints. In addition, the group’s organizer promised his clients “protection” from justice if they were detained while illegally crossing the state border.
SBU officers documented the gang’s criminal activities and detained its organizer along with four of his accomplices.
The group was created by a 44-year-old resident of Bukovina. He involved his acquaintances in illegal activities, including people with criminal records. For example, one of the gang members repeatedly served a sentence for committing a serious crime.
Through their connections, they sought out potential conscripts and offered them their help in escaping abroad. The cost of the “services” is estimated from 3,000 to 5,000 dollars, depending on the urgency of the departure. This amount includes consulting clients on behavior during clandestine crossing of the state border and their “escort” in the neighboring country.
In more than 20 searches of the detainees’ residential addresses and vehicles, mobile phones, SIM cards and rough records containing evidence of illegal activities were seized, as well as large amounts of cash.
Currently, all detainees are reported as suspicious. The issue of choosing a preventive measure for him – detention in custody – is being decided. Offenders face up to nine years in prison with confiscation of assets.
We would like to remind you that earlier in Odessa they exposed a scheme for illegally transporting men of military age abroad by arranging fictitious marriages with disabled women.
Since the start of the war, nearly 20,000 men have left Ukraine to avoid conscription, according to the BBC. Fugitives cross the border illegally, mainly by swimming in rivers. Another 21,113 men who tried to flee were caught by Ukrainian border guards.
Source: korrespondent
I am David Wyatt, a professional writer and journalist for Buna Times. I specialize in the world section of news coverage, where I bring to light stories and issues that affect us globally. As a graduate of Journalism, I have always had the passion to spread knowledge through writing.