Operation Guardian: 110 individuals suspected of evading military service based on new evidence
Law enforcement officers, as part of the sixth stage of Operation Guardian, reported 110 military personnel and civilians suspected of new episodes of evading military service. This was reported by the National Police of Ukraine.
Operatives from the Department of Strategic Investigations and investigators from the Main Investigation Department of the National Police, together with the State Bureau of Investigation and internal security personnel from the Armed Forces of Ukraine, documented dozens of cases of fictitious medical certificates being used. These were documents regarding the alleged need to care for persons with disabilities, as well as false conclusions about the health status of men of draft age.
During the investigation, it was established that in some cases, the persons for whom care was declared did not have disabilities or did not require constant supervision. There were also cases where military personnel, on the basis of forged documents, not only terminated their service but also illegally received payments provided for by law.
In total, law enforcement officers conducted 128 searches in 20 regions of Ukraine and in the city of Kyiv. During the investigation, cash, mobile phones, computer equipment, doctor's stamps, medical documentation with signs of forgery, and rough notes were seized.
Based on the collected materials, the suspects are charged with a number of articles of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, in particular, illegal transportation of persons across the state border, evasion of conscription during mobilisation, unauthorised leaving of a military unit, forgery of documents, and fraud. The maximum penalty for individual articles is up to ten years' imprisonment.
Operation Guardian is a long-term initiative. Law enforcement agencies are continuing to gather evidence, work to cancel illegally obtained deferrals and bring those involved to criminal responsibility.
