Fictitious diagnoses and reservations: SBU exposes 7 mobilization evasion schemes
The Security Service of Ukraine and the National Police announced the exposure of seven schemes for evading military service and mobilization in various regions of the country. Law enforcement officers detained 18 people believed to be the organizers of the deals.
One of the largest incidents was uncovered in Zhytomyr Oblast. According to the SBU, a local realtor was looking for clients, and employees of medical institutions helped process documents about supposedly oncological diseases.
The investigation claims that to create a fictitious medical history, the scheme participants simulated surgical interventions and used biological material from real patients. After that, men could obtain a disability group. The cost of such a "service", according to the special service, was 15 thousand dollars.
The SBU reports that almost half a hundred persons liable for military service could have used this scheme.
In Odesa Oblast, military counterintelligence detained three people in the case of illegal dismissal of servicemen from service due to health conditions. Among the suspects, the special service names the son of the head of the regional commercial court and two former officials of the TCC (territorial recruitment center).
According to the investigation, together with the secretary of the local military medical commission (MMC), they processed fictitious inpatient treatment and entered false diagnoses into the documents. A package of documents cost 15 thousand dollars.
Another scheme in Odesa, according to the SBU, was organized by a family doctor and two workers of a medical institution. For 4 thousand dollars, they allegedly offered documents for establishing a fictitious disability group and subsequent removal from military registration. According to preliminary investigation data, at least 20 men had contacted them.
In Cherkasy Oblast, law enforcement officers detained a blogger suspected of publishing routes of mobile groups of the TCC and law enforcement officers and urging to avoid those places. There, a former secretary of a medical advisory commission was also exposed, who, according to the SBU, for 2 thousand dollars processed documents about supposedly severe illnesses of relatives to obtain guardian status. In total, almost 100 persons liable for military service could have used this scheme.
In Khmelnytskyi Oblast, three suspects are accused of organizing illegal departure of men abroad. According to the investigation, for 14 thousand dollars, clients were fictitiously employed at a critical infrastructure enterprise, after which they were given a reservation and allowed to leave supposedly on a business trip.
In Vinnytsia, SBU counterintelligence detained a contract serviceman from one of the military units. According to the investigation, for 9.5 thousand dollars, he helped mobilized servicemen illegally leave their duty station by leading them outside the restricted facility, bypassing checkpoints. Then accomplices were supposed to take the servicemen outside the garrison.
Depending on their role, the suspects were notified of suspicion under articles of the Criminal Code regarding obstruction of the lawful activities of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, illegal transfer of persons across the state border, forgery of documents, abuse of influence, and desertion.
According to the SBU, the maximum punishment for the crimes charged is up to 12 years of imprisonment with confiscation of property. The guilt of each suspect must be proven in court.
Source: Security Service of Ukraine, SBU
