Fake enlistment officers arrested in Odesa for extorting Ukrainians

The Prosecutor General’s Office reported the arrests.

According to the office, under the procedural guidance of the Odesa Oblast Prosecutor’s Office, the suspects were notified of their charges under Article 189, Part 4 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, related to extortion.

Investigators allege that the suspects targeted men of conscription age, posing as police and enlistment officers under the pretext of document checks. They demanded to see military IDs and, if the men refused, threatened to forcibly deliver them to enlistment offices, demanding money to “resolve” the issue.

In one instance, suspects reportedly obtained 38,000 hryvnias from a victim, and in another case, nearly 39,000 hryvnias. After receiving the money, they assured the victims their data would be entered into the Oberih database.

The suspects were apprehended while extorting and receiving 4,000 hryvnias and $3,000 from another victim.

During searches, authorities seized military uniforms, cash, weapons, and other evidence.

According to the Prosecutor General’s Office, the group included individuals with criminal histories, as well as a former law enforcement officer who also had legal issues.

Officials are now considering pre-trial detention for the suspects.

Earlier, Ukraine’s SBU Security Service detained a Russian agent in Volyn who served in a local enlistment office security unit and was preparing a new series of airstrikes on Ukraine.