A group that was smuggling men across the border in car trunks was uncovered in the Odesa region
In the Odesa region, law enforcement officials uncovered an organized group that had set up an operation to illegally smuggle men of draft age across Ukraine’s state border. According to the investigation, four Odesa residents, including two women, were involved in the scheme.
The perpetrators sought out “clients” via Telegram. They personally transported the men to the border and provided them with instructions on the route to follow. The cost of smuggling was approximately $10,000 per person, and the group members stored the proceeds in crypto wallets.
A distinctive feature of the scheme was that the men were dressed in military uniforms and issued appropriate gear. This was done to make them less conspicuous while moving near the border.
One of the suspects was detained while attempting to smuggle someone across the border. Her car was stopped on the Kyiv–Odesa highway, and a man subject to military conscription was found in the trunk; she was transporting him to the border zone.
During 12 searches of the suspects’ residences and vehicles, law enforcement officers seized cash, five cars, 16 cell phones, bank cards, dashcams, a thermal imager, a hard drive, and other physical evidence.
Four members of the group were notified that they are suspected of organizing the illegal smuggling of at least 11 men across the border. The court ordered them to be held in custody with the possibility of posting bail. The total bail amount exceeds 5.7 million hryvnias.
Source: State Border Guard Service of Ukraine
As a reminder, in Ternopil, following a conflict between employees of the Territorial Recruitment Center and civilians, the recruitment team was required, effective September 8, 2026, to use body cameras to record their actions and to wear uniforms.
In Ternopil on the evening of August 25, while identifying individuals who might be evading military service, a group of people attacked employees of the Territorial Recruitment Center. As a result, three military personnel were injured.
