Since the beginning of martial law, border guards have detained more than 8,000 men who are subject to conscription during mobilization due to their age for attempting to cross the border illegally.
More than 5,600 of these violators were stopped by border guards outside checkpoints. The rest tried to cheat at passport control.
Even though the attempt to illegally cross the state border is punished administratively, many dodgers and their assistants resort to related criminal offenses.
Thus, since the beginning of the full-scale war, 245 futile attempts to bribe border guards have been recorded, during which bribes totaling more than UAH 3.8 million were offered to border guards.
Also, according to the materials of the operative-investigative units of the State Border and Border Service, more than 1,450 criminal proceedings have been initiated, of which: more than 270 were for illegal transportation of persons across the state border of Ukraine (Article 332 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine); for forgery of documents and use of forged documents (Article 358 of the Criminal Code) – 1160; for draft evasion (Article 336 of the Criminal Code) - 17.
Almost 600 people have been accused of committing these crimes, and about 200 people have already been charged with criminal responsibility.
We emphasize that during martial law, male citizens of Ukraine between the ages of 18 and 60 are prohibited from leaving Ukraine, except for specific categories of persons.
It is worth noting that evaders have repeatedly become victims of crime. Some of them paid a lot of money, and some died in rivers and mountains during attempts to violate the border.
It should be noted that measures to counter illegal activities have been strengthened at the state border.
The State Border Service of Ukraine warns of the inadmissibility of actions that violate the law and strict liability, in particular:
- up to 5 years for EVASION - Article 336 "Evasion of conscription for military service during mobilization, for a special period, for military service by conscription of reservists in a special period";
- up to 5 years, and in aggravating circumstances - more for TRANSFERERS (Article 332 "Illegal transportation of persons across the state border of Ukraine"). If criminals transport a group of persons or do it in a way that endangers the lives of wards, the responsibility can increase to 7 years of imprisonment, or up to 9 years, if, for example, the transportation is carried out by an organized criminal group;
- up to 5 years for FORGERS (Article 358 "Forgery of documents, seals, stamps and forms, sale or use of forged documents, seals, stamps"). The maximum sanction of the article is applied if the criminal acts were committed by a group of persons or repeatedly. At the same time, the use of a knowingly forged document is subject to up to two years of imprisonment.
- up to 10 years for PROVIDERS (Article 369 "Offering, promising or providing an unlawful benefit to an official"). The maximum sanction of the article can be applied if the unlawful benefit was granted to an official who occupies a mainly responsible position or was committed by an organized group of persons or its participant.
