The State Bureau of Investigation has uncovered a large-scale desertion scheme in four regions

The State Bureau of Investigations, in collaboration with the National Police, dismantled an organized group that was helping mobilized servicemen to leave their posts without authorization. The scheme spanned the Volyn, Lviv, Zhytomyr, and Chernivtsi regions, and the cost of services for a single “client” ranged from $8,000 to $15,000.

This was reported by the SBI press service.

Source: https://censor.net/ua/p4002580

The organizers turned out to be three civilians who had previously served in the military and used their knowledge and connections to coordinate the escapes. The suspects provided detailed instructions, helped evade checks, and transported the deserters to hiding places. Law enforcement documented at least five instances of illegal facilitation of desertion.

The organizers and two accomplices were detained during the transfer of another payment of $8,000. Two servicemen who had been wanted since leaving their units in December 2025 and February 2026 were also identified. The participants in the scheme have been notified of suspicion of aiding and abetting desertion, while the fugitives face charges of desertion under martial law. The suspects face up to 12 years in prison; most of them are already in custody.

An official of the Territorial Defense Command was detained in the Kyiv region for extorting a bribe

Earlier, the SAPO and NABU exposed SBU investigators and a lawyer for taking bribes.

As a reminder, the organizer of a scheme to smuggle draft dodgers for $12,000 was detained in Kyiv.

Also, a TCC employee in the Chernihiv region was detained for bribery.