The National Police exposed a network of illegal military escapes abroad: nine people were detained

On May 27, the National Police of Ukraine announced the neutralization of a criminal group that specialized in illegally assisting military personnel in violating their terms of service and crossing the state border. More than 300 law enforcement officers from six regions took part in the special operation.

As a result of the actions of law enforcement officers, nine members of the group were detained, each of whom was suspected of committing a crime.

The investigation established that the organizers were two men, 55 and 65 years old, from Chernivtsi region, one of whom has multiple convictions for serious crimes. A lawyer from Lviv participated in their activities and persuaded the military to the desert, assuring them that she could evade being searched due to her connections in the military administration and promising assistance in obtaining a discharge from the army.

Her partner was a resident of Ternopil who was involved in transporting military personnel, picking them up from various regions, and delivering them to their destinations. The cost of such services ranged from $3,000 to $6,000, and for an additional fee of $12,000 to $15,000, illegal border crossing was organized.

In part related to transportation abroad, five more people from the Chernivtsi region were involved, who provided temporary accommodation for military personnel, accompanied them to the border, and transported them to Romania and Moldova via illegal routes. According to the investigation, there were at least three such channels.

As a result of the criminals’ activities, 25 cases were reported involving military personnel who used their services. Law enforcement officers identified all potential clients, who have now been transferred to the Ternopil Zonal Department of the Military Law Enforcement Service.

During the 48 searches, 164,000 hryvnias, $21,000, 2,000 euros, 12 cars, 17 weapons, mobile phones, and draft records were seized.

All nine members of the group were suspected under Article 114 (obstruction of the lawful activities of the Armed Forces of Ukraine) and Part 3 of Article 332 (illegal smuggling of persons across the state border as part of an organized group for selfish motives). The maximum sentence is up to 9 years of imprisonment with confiscation of property.

The pre-trial investigation is ongoing, and investigators will request the selection of a preventive measure, such as arrest.

In addition, information was disclosed about the large scale of illegal crossing of the state border of Ukraine – about 45 thousand people got abroad illegally.

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