Published: January 24, 2025 8:48 am
Author: RT
A fake father-of-three claimed his non-existent children were waiting for him in Germany, according to the authorities
A Ukrainian man has been caught trying to flee the country by falsely claiming that he had three young children waiting for him in Germany, according to the Ukrainian Border Guard Service. Potential conscripts in Ukraine are resorting to extreme measures to avoid being drafted into the military.
The service reported details of the case on Thursday, accusing the suspect of “buying kids” for his ploy. The unidentified man presented paperwork stating that he had three children living in Germany: two-year-old twins and a seven-month-old infant.
The documents raised suspicion and border guards questioned the traveler, who confessed that he had purchased the fraudulent papers for €6,000 ($6,250). He was handed over to the national police, the statement added.
Kiev has banned fighting-age men from leaving the country since the escalation of the conflict with Russia in early 2022. Exceptions are granted to specific groups, including fathers of three or more minors.
Last year, the government reformed the military service system to bolster conscription rates, as frontline troops suffered significant casualties. However, draft officials are struggling to meet their targets. Men with financial means can resort to illegal ways of avoiding enrollment, including by buying fake exemptions or being smuggled across the border.
READ MORE: Ukraine’s chief military psychologist accused in $1 million bribe sting
Earlier this week, the Ukrainian Security Service (SBU) reported investigating a senior official who serves as chief military psychiatrist and deputy chair of Kiev’s central draft medical commission. The agency alleged that the suspect had accumulated some $1 million in illicit gains since 2022.
