In Kharkiv Region, a fraudster was uncovered who promised conscripted men to “reserve” their place from enlistment into the Armed Forces of Ukraine in exchange for monetary reward
The incident became yet another striking example of dishonest schemes spreading within the military and law enforcement circles and provoked sharp public outrage. According to official information, the incident occurred in spring 2025, when a 39-year-old man from Kharkiv offered his services to an acquaintance. Law enforcement reports indicate that the man was interested in specific mechanisms for forming a list of registered reservists, aiming to avoid conscription or obtain "exemption" from front-line or reserve service from the state. However, the true goal of the scammer was to illegally obtain funds. The fraudulent "business" involved allegedly providing "services" related to fictitious employment in units of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine in Kharkiv Region. Under these agreements, the man promised that he could ensure "reservation" — that is, a temporary deferment or complete exemption from conscription — in exchange for payment. According to law enforcement sources, the criminal planned to receive unlawfully obtained benefit of 9,500 US dollars from a Ukrainian citizen. During the operation, he was officially notified of suspicion and detained at the scene of the crime. It is important to note that investigative actions are ongoing to identify all persons involved in the scheme and potential "clients" of the offender. This may indicate the existence of a larger network of scammers or corruption schemes operating within the sphere of military conscription. Officials from the State Border Guard Service and the Kharkiv police emphasize that the detained individual is not the only member of the criminal group. They vow to give maximum attention to the investigation to uncover all accomplices and prevent similar fraudulent schemes in the future. Currently, investigators are actively working with the victims and confirm that a broad network of scammers, employing various tricks to deceive citizens and obtain illicit gains, is subject to comprehensive investigation. This case has provoked significant public attention and highlighted the urgent problem of abuse within mobilization policies, corruption, and fraudulent schemes. Civil society and military analysts call on law enforcement to strengthen oversight and preventative measures to prevent the recurrence of such incidents and to protect law-abiding citizens from deception. At the same time, experts stress the necessity of strict accountability for those who exploit corruption schemes for personal gain at the expense of the state and society.