Fake diagnoses for $14,000: The Bureau of Investigation dismantled a scheme to evade mobilization in Transcarpathia.

The State Bureau of Investigation (DBR), in collaboration with the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) and the National Police, dismantled a large-scale criminal scheme in Transcarpathia, which allowed men of conscription age to obtain fake diagnoses of mental disorders. This way, they avoided mobilization and were able to leave the country. It is known that the service cost around 14 thousand dollars.

The scheme was organized in August of last year. It involved the head of the Berehiv district military enlistment office, an official from the military medical commission, as well as psychiatrists from the Khust and Vynogradiv district hospitals. Members of the criminal gang offered "the service" for a reward of up to 14 thousand US dollars.

How the scheme worked: men wishing to evade mobilization were directed to "special" doctors. The medical professionals fabricated the necessary diagnoses, and to create the appearance of legitimacy, they even kept "patients" in the hospital. After that, clients received medical certificates stating their unfitness for military service. Based on these documents, the military enlistment office official ensured the men were removed from military records.

The DBR documented several instances of producing fake certificates. It is known that dozens of conscription-age men utilized the group's services and subsequently left the country. An investigation is currently underway to establish all facts of illegal activity and identify other involved individuals.

Criminal schemes are becoming increasingly creative

The Ukrainian Security Service dismantled another four mobilization evasion schemes in mid-October. Recently, the schemes of these criminals have become "more creative." For instance, one of them involved marrying women with disabilities, while another entailed smuggling across the border via a river. The "service" even included life jackets. It is worth noting that earlier, Informator reported that in Lviv, a criminal would make men disabled for $7 thousand to evade mobilization.

Meanwhile, men who illegally left Ukraine during the war will not be able to return home without facing consequences. According to the spokesperson for the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine, Andriy Demchenko, border guards are recording the highest number of attempts to leave Ukraine through the so-called "green corridor." As of September 2023, the flow of citizens at the border has slightly decreased compared to August, but it still remains high. Upon their return home, men will be held accountable. Cases where men will not face consequences upon returning home are excluded.