The Security Service of Ukraine uncovered a scheme to sell fake IDs for $3,000–5,000

This was reported by the Office of the Prosecutor General.

Under the procedural guidance of the Office of the Prosecutor General, a Ukrainian citizen has been notified of suspicion of obstructing the lawful activities of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (Part 1 of Article 114-1 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine).

According to the investigation, the suspect organised an illegal scheme for the mass production and sale of forged certificates of Ukrainian law enforcement agencies, in particular the Security Service of Ukraine.

Such documents were used by conscripts to avoid fulfilling their constitutional duty to defend the state, as provided for in Article 65 of the Constitution of Ukraine.

The investigation established that the organiser involved ten accomplices in the illegal activity. They rented offices in various regions of Ukraine, where they mass-produced counterfeit documents.

According to the case file, the participants in the scheme entered the personal data of clients into blank forged certificates and pasted photographs into them, following the model of genuine documents.

The cost of such "services" ranged from 3 to 5 thousand US dollars, depending on the urgency of production.

The finished forged certificates were delivered to customers in two ways:

• by post, disguised as printed materials;

• during personal meetings.

After receiving such documents, conscripts used them to evade mobilisation.

During searches of the homes and offices of those involved in the scheme, smartphones, computer equipment, stamps and seals of the relevant institutions were seized.

Law enforcement officers also found about 100 forged certificates of the Security Service of Ukraine and other military and law enforcement agencies, as well as fictitious orders and certificates.

The organiser of the scheme has been notified of suspicion under Part 1 of Article 114-1 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine — obstruction of the lawful activities of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and other military formations during a special period.

The court imposed a preventive measure in the form of detention.

The article provides for up to 8 years of imprisonment.

The pre-trial investigation is being conducted by investigators of the Main Investigation Department of the SBU with the operational support of the Main Department of Internal Security of the SBU.

At the same time, in accordance with Article 62 of the Constitution of Ukraine, a person is considered innocent of a crime until their guilt is proven in accordance with the law and established by a court verdict.