Prosecutors of the Ivano-Frankivsk Regional Prosecutor's Office have sent indictments to the court regarding participants of an organized group who, during martial law, smuggled conscripted men across the state border (Part 3 of Article 332 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine).

Among the accused are an official from a correctional institution and two other accomplices from Transcarpathia. The accomplices established an interregional escape route to Romania, which was used weekly by dozens of "draft dodgers." The smuggling was carried out bypassing official checkpoints — through mountainous and forested areas.

The cost of such a "service" was 6,000 US dollars per person.

The accused also involved residents of the border region in the scheme, who provided the fugitives with temporary housing and accompanied them through the forest to the state border.

According to the investigation, the group organized the smuggling of dozens of "clients" every week.

In February 2025, law enforcement uncovered and halted their activities after receiving funds from another "client" from Ivano-Frankivsk.

At the request of the prosecutors, the property of the accused has been seized — an apartment, a house, and a car.

The organizer of the group and three other suspects are wanted internationally.

The investigation was conducted by the Territorial Administration of the State Bureau of Investigation located in Lviv. Operational support was provided by the State Bureau of Investigation.

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.