Under the procedural guidance of prosecutors from the Odesa Specialized Prosecutor's Office in the field of defense of the Southern region, the illegal activities of two residents of Odesa have been halted, who organized the illegal transportation of individuals across the state border of Ukraine.

According to the investigation, in July 2025, the suspects, having found a man of conscription age, offered him a "route" to the Republic of Poland outside the official border crossing points. For the promised "service," they demanded full prepayment of 7,500 US dollars, while guaranteeing transportation and escort along the way.

According to the plan, the man was to travel from Odesa to Kyiv, and from there head towards the border.

Immediately after receiving the agreed sum of money, law enforcement officers caught the suspects "in the act."

The suspects are charged with organizing the illegal transportation of individuals across the state border of Ukraine, assisting in its commission through advice and instructions, committed by a group of individuals in collusion, for selfish motives (part 3 of Article 332 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine).

One of the suspects has been placed in custody with an alternative of bail set at 211,960 hryvnias, while the other is under house arrest.

Currently, the involvement of officials in the commission of the crime and those who may have benefited from this scheme is being established.

The pre-trial investigation is being conducted by investigators of the SV OROP No. 1 of the Main Directorate of the National Police in the Odesa region, with operational support from the VVVB of the 17th Border Detachment of the Southern Regional Border Guard Service of Ukraine.

Note: According to Article 62 of the Constitution of Ukraine, a person is presumed innocent of committing a crime and cannot be subjected to criminal punishment until their guilt is proven in a lawful manner and established by a court verdict.