Scheme worth tens of billions uncovered in Odesa region: Military and civilians smuggle draft dodgers to Transnistria

The State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) has uncovered an organized criminal group in the Odesa region that was engaged in the illegal smuggling of men subject to military service to the unrecognized Transnistria.

According to Ukrinform, this was reported by the SBI.

The group included both military personnel and civilians, with the latter acting as intermediaries. It was established that last year, the perpetrators facilitated the departure of men of conscription age from Ukraine, bypassing official checkpoints. The investigation confirmed that they smuggled at least 36 individuals. According to the SBI, the members of the group earned tens of millions of hryvnias from draft dodgers.

Some members searched for “clients” through specially created messaging channels. Others organized transportation to the border area, arranged illegal crossing routes, and maintained contacts with accomplices in Moldova.

The cost of the “services” ranged from 5,000 to 10,000 US dollars per person. This amount included transportation to the border, instructions, actual or online escort across the border, delivery to Moldova, and further assistance with legalizing their stay.

Several military personnel have been charged under Part 2 of Article 15 and Part 3 of Article 332 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine — organization and attempted illegal smuggling of persons across the state border.

The court imposed preventive measures on the suspects in the form of bail with appropriate procedural obligations.

The investigation is ongoing. Law enforcement is identifying the full range of those involved, including civilian intermediaries and those who assisted in organizing the routes.

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As reported by Ukrinform, in the Lviv region, the head of an NGO was taken into custody for arranging an illegal border crossing for a man of conscription age for 15,000 US dollars.

First photo: SBI