The court has sentenced a border guard who facilitated the illegal escape of conscripts abroad
In August of this year, as part of an investigation conducted by the State Bureau of Investigation, a case was completed revealing a large-scale corruption scheme involving the smuggling of men of conscription age across the Ukrainian border. As a result of investigative and procedural actions, a judge from the Rozdilniansky District Court of Odesa Oblast found one of the border guards guilty of illegal actions that contributed to the escape of potential conscripts abroad. The court sentenced the offender to two years of involuntary detention in a disciplinary battalion. According to official data published in the materials of the State Bureau of Investigation (SBI), the investigation established that in January 2025, this law enforcement officer — who is currently suspended from the position of an inspector of the State Border Guard Service — joined a criminal group that established an illicit mechanism for smuggling men of conscription age across the Ukrainian border into the unrecognized territorial formation — Transnistria. It was revealed that a co-conspirator, possessing information on the locations of checkpoints, patrol routes, and other important details, used these data to organize illegal crossings. Sources indicate that he dressed the "clients" in military uniform and transported them across the border, pretending to be carrying out official duties — claiming he was ferrying fellow servicemen. At designated locations, the men would leave the vehicles and cross the border on their own, receiving a substantial payment — up to six thousand US dollars per person. The operation’s uncovering became known in spring 2025 when the border guard was detained while accepting another bribe. It was precisely at this moment that law enforcement officers identified him as part of the organized criminal group. During an independent investigation, his involvement was established, and materials concerning other participants in the scheme were separated into a separate proceeding, according to the SBI press service. It is worth noting that this case further confirms systemic problems in the area of border security and the corruption risks within law enforcement agencies, which Ukraine continues to combat diligently and consistently. The court’s verdict sent a clear message about the inadmissibility of such crimes and emphasized the need to strengthen oversight to ensure legality in this critically important sector. It is expected that the implemented disciplinary measures and ongoing investigative actions will help prevent the emergence of similar schemes in the future and increase public confidence in the national security agencies.