SBI probe unmasks Zaporizhzhya draft evasion ring, as officials helped over 300 men dodge service
A mobilization evasion scheme organized by the head of one of Zaporizhzhya's district military recruitment and social support centers has been exposed by the State Bureau of Investigation, the agency reported on Dec. 20.
The head of the district military recruitment and social support center and three of his subordinates provided a full "package of services" to persons liable for military service so that they might be exempted from military service.
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According to the SBI, the draft dodgers were registered in the same district of the city where the military enlistment office was located, then they were enrolled and provided with falsified medical documents to undergo a military qualification examination and guarantee subsequent exemption from military service.
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According to operational data, more than 300 people evaded mobilization in this way between 2022 and 2023. The estimated cost of the "service" was $2,000-3,000 per person.
SBI officers conducted searches at the residences and workplaces of the officials of the local military recruitment center.
Read also: SBU exposes draft dodging corruption scheme
The investigation is ongoing. The full range of persons involved is being established.
The criminal proceedings are being conducted under the articles of evasion from military service during mobilization and evasion from military service under martial law (Part 2 of Article 28, Article 336, Part 4 of Article 409 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine).
The sanction of the articles provides for punishment in the form of imprisonment for ten years.
Procedural guidance is provided by the Zaporizhzhya Specialized Defense Prosecutor's Office of the Eastern Region.
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