State Bureau of Investigations exposes gang that preyed on draft dodgers in Lviv Oblast

The gang, which operated in Lviv Oblast, consisted of local residents as well as a law enforcement officer, a soldiers, and the son of a judge from a neighboring oblast.

According to the SBI, in late December, members of the gang were approached by two people who wanted to flee to Europe, violating Ukrainian martial law statutes that prohibit military-aged men from leaving the country. The suspects them promised their “clients” that they would be listed as volunteers in a government database, which would allow them to cross the border legally, citing a price of $15,000.

The SBI noted that the suspects had actually forged the necessary documents, but upon learning that the “clients” were going to transport a large amount of cash, decided to extort them further.

After reaching the border, the gang members, dressed as draft office employees, claimed that passengers' volunteer certificates were fake and charged them additional $20,000 to not call for backup and drag them to the frontlines.

The suspects were taken into custody after they received the money.

At the request of the SBI, courts have set bail for the two alleged leaders of the gang in the amount of UAH 1.5 million ($38,500), and for the other defendants - about UAH 500,000 ($12,800).