Military tried to organize a channel for the escape of soldiers who had left their units without permission from Ukraine through a border guard
The State Bureau of Investigation, together with the State Border Guard Service, detained a soldier who was trying to organize an illegal way to transport soldiers from Ukraine to Moldova. According to the press service of the State Border Guard Service, this attempt was part of a larger operation to combat smuggling and illegal migration of soldiers from the combat zone and veterans who had left their units without permission. According to the investigation, the incident occurred in late spring 2025. The suspect, who was a member of the Ukrainian military, began an active search for ways to leave the country illegally, as he was dissatisfied with the conditions of service or intended to avoid responsibility. His idea was to organize the transportation of soldiers who had left their units without permission across the border, using an intermediary - a border guard. According to a source in the SBI press service, the soldier approached the border guard with an offer to help him gain access to patrol schedules and checkpoints. The main task was to cross the Dniester on a rubber boat in order to avoid legal border controls and detentions. For this, he promised to pay 2,500 US dollars. In addition, he hinted that if the operation was successful, he would be able to bring in more soldiers or former soldiers who are in the status of deserters (SZCH), that is, soldiers without the permission of the command. However, the border guard reported suspicious intentions and passed the information on to law enforcement agencies. As a result, on June 18, SBI officers conducted a joint operation and detained the soldier while transferring an illegal reward — 2,500 dollars — to a border guard. During the investigative actions, funds and other materials confirming the commission of the crime were seized. The military serviceman was informed of suspicion of providing an illegal benefit to an official in a responsible position. The court chose a preventive measure in the form of detention with the possibility of posting a bail of 302 thousand hryvnias. The article under which the criminal proceedings were initiated provides for a penalty of up to eight years of imprisonment with confiscation of property. The investigation is currently continuing to establish all the circumstances of this case and the possible involvement of other persons in organizing the illegal transfer of military personnel abroad. This case once again emphasizes the importance of combating corruption schemes in the sphere of state security and military management, as its consequences can have a serious impact on the security of Ukraine and trust in law enforcement agencies.