In Kyiv and Zakarpattia, a group was detained that organized the escape of persons liable for military service for $8,000

In Kyiv and Zakarpattia, a group was detained that organized the escape of persons liable for military service for $8,000

Countering the illegal transportation of persons across the state border is one of the priorities of the SBI’s work, especially when connections, official status, or documents that help bypass control lines are used for this purpose.

Employees of the SBI together with the SSU and SBGS reported suspicion to four Kyiv residents who illegally transported men of conscription age across the state border of Ukraine.

According to the investigation, two civilian residents of Kyiv, an active police officer, and a former serviceman acted jointly and assisted men of conscription age in illegally leaving the territory of Ukraine. They searched for those willing to go abroad, coordinated their actions via Telegram, and organized transport to the border areas of Zakarpattia.

The cost of such services amounted to up to USD 8,000. Two civilian members of the group provided the men with instructions on preparing for the border crossing, the route, and necessary equipment. The former serviceman and the police officer transported the “clients” from Kyiv to Zakarpattia, helped bypass checkpoints, and used the law enforcement officer’s official ID and war veteran documents.

In the Rakhiv district of Zakarpattia region, the suspects delivered the men to designated points near the border with Romania, after which they sent GPS routes for the subsequent independent crossing.

All four participants in the scheme have been notified of suspicion under Part 3 of Article 332 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine — illegal transportation of persons across the state border of Ukraine, committed by a group of persons by prior conspiracy for profit.

The article provides for up to 9 years of imprisonment with confiscation of property.

The pre-trial investigation is ongoing.

Procedural oversight is carried out by the Zakarpattia Specialized Prosecutor’s Office in the field of defence of the Western region.