Ukraine’s SBU dismantles draft evasion plan, seizes $300,000 from medical chief PHOTO

The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) dismantled a large-scale scheme to evade military mobilisation in the Dnipropetrovsk region, discovering more than $300,000 during searches at the local territorial recruitment centre in the possession of the head of a district Military Medical Commission (MMC).

Investigators found that the official was one of the organisers of the criminal scheme, Caliber.Az reports via SBU’s Telegram channel.

According to the SBU, for a fee, she and her accomplices issued fake medical certificates to conscripts, allowing them to avoid military service. The cost of these “services” started at $2,500.

To find clients and modify their military records, an employee of the territorial recruitment and social support centre (TCC) was involved, working together with a 58-year-old regional resident.

SBU officers documented more than 20 instances of bribe payments to the scheme’s organisers. The head of the local MMC and one of her accomplices have been notified of suspicion under several articles of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.

If convicted, the offenders face up to 10 years in prison with confiscation of property.

By Jeyhun Aghazada