The State Border Service reports a decline in the number of men fleeing abroad

During 2025, Ukrainian border guards, together with law enforcement agencies, uncovered 420 organised groups illegally transporting men out of the country for money.
The scale of this activity was reported by State Border Service spokesman Andriy Demchenko during a briefing on efforts to combat illegal border-crossing channels.

According to Demchenko, in October alone, 28 additional groups specialising in the illegal transfer of Ukrainians of conscription age abroad were dismantled.

The exposed networks included both route organisers and accomplices who promised clients a “guaranteed” departure abroad in exchange for significant sums of money.

They recruited participants via social media, personal contacts, or closed chat rooms, offering comprehensive support — from forged documents to dangerous routes through green border areas.

Demchenko emphasised that law enforcement agencies are documenting each scheme to bring both perpetrators and organisers to justice, targeting those who profit from people’s attempts to evade wartime restrictions.