illegal border crossings

Hungary FM Szijjártó supports illegal border crossings for Ukrainians

Hungary’s Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó declared his support for illegally helping Ukrainian men cross the border to evade conscription, arguing that Ukraine’s conscription is preventing an end to the full-scale war, he wrote on Facebook on Feb. 9.

9 February, 11:48 AM

Ukrainians flee from mobilization to Belarus in surging numbers

The number of draft-age Ukrainian men detained while trying to cross into Belarus increased four-fold in 2025 compared with 2024, according to an investigation by Slidstvo.Info and the Belarusian Investigative Center published on Jan. 13.

13 January, 10:48 PM

Pakistani people smuggler arrested in Kyiv

A 26-year-old Pakistani national was detained in Kyiv on people smuggling charges, Kyiv City Prosecutor’s Office announced on Sept. 18.

18 September 2025, 10:26 PM

More draft-age Ukrainians are fleeing to Belarus

Twice as many draft-age Ukrainian men attempted to cross into Belarus in the first seven months of 2025 as in the entire previous three years of Russia’s full-scale invasion, Ukrainian journalists at Slidstvo.info reported on Aug. 25.

26 August 2025, 02:11 AM

Over 13,000 Ukrainians entered Romania illegally in 2024

In 2024, over 13,000 Ukrainian men illegally crossed the border into Romania, Florin Coman, head of the Territorial Inspectorate of the Border Police (ITPF) in Sighetu Marmației, announced on Feb. 25.

26 February 2025, 02:06 AM

$8,000 escape plan foiled: Border guards find hidden compartment for smuggling men abroad

Three men from different oblasts in Ukraine were caught attempting to cross the border in a hidden minivan compartment, the State Border Guard Service reported on Jan. 17.

17 January 2025, 04:01 PM

Russian boozy European dream escape ends with hangover and detour

A Russian man living illegally in Ukraine was detained while trying to cross the border with Slovakia, the State Border Guard Service (SBGS) reported on Telegram on Jan. 16, describing the windy and comical story of his ambitious adventures.

17 January 2025, 12:59 PM

Ukrainian investigators expose network of 120 officials facilitating illegal border crossings

The State Bureau of Investigation has exposed 120 officials involved in facilitating illegal border crossings in 2024, the SBI’s press service reported on Telegram on Jan. 8.

8 January 2025, 05:04 PM

Two Ukrainians arrested in Poland for organizing illegal border crossings

Polish border guards have arrested two Ukrainian citizens suspected of organizing illegal crossings at the Polish-Belarusian border, the Podlaski Department of the Polish Border Guard reported on Oct. 4.

5 October 2024, 04:45 PM

US, Interpol help bust draft dodging scheme in Ukraine

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security and Interpol have assisted in an operation to dismantle a scheme that allowed draft-eligible Ukrainian citizens to illegally leave the country during martial law, Ukraine’s National Police announced on Oct. 4.

5 October 2024, 12:19 AM

Ukrainian and foreign journalists face 'criminal charges' in Russia for reporting from Kursk Oblast

Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) initiated criminal cases against Ukrainian and foreign journalists who reported from Sudzha in Kursk Oblast following a border breach by Ukrainian forces, Russian news agency Interfax reported on Aug. 22.

22 August 2024, 07:04 PM

SBU detains pro-Russian OPFL party member attempting illegal Slovakia border crossing

Ukraine’s SBU Security Service detained a previously accused MP from the banned pro-Russian Opposition Platform For Life party while illegally crossing the border with Slovakia, SBU Office in Cherkasy Oblast reported on Facebook on Aug. 8.

8 August 2024, 01:38 PM

Why former PrivatBank co-owner Bogolyubov fled Ukraine — NV analysis

Father of five children, business partner of oligarch Ihor Kolomoisky, and former PrivatBank co-owner, Gennadiy Bogolyubov, has left Ukraine using forged documents, according to Ukraine’s State Bureau of Investigations (SBI). NV Business examined why he might have felt compelled to depart with such urgency.

12 July 2024, 01:28 AM

Over 20,000 Ukrainian men fled to Moldova since early 2022

Since the 2022 Russian invasion, over 20,000 Ukrainian men have illegally crossed into Moldova, RFE/RL reported on July 10, citing Moldovan authorities.

11 July 2024, 02:11 AM

Odesa border guards foil fake marriage scheme to dodge military service

Ukraine’s State Border Guard Service in Odesa Oblast apprehended a 30-year-old woman from Kyiv for allegedly aiding conscripts in orchestrating fraudulent marriages with women who had multiple children or first or second-degree disabilities, the Border Guard Service reported on May 28.

28 May 2024, 05:40 PM

Border crossing scheme involving forged documents uncovered in Odesa

Law enforcement authorities have exposed an illegal border crossing scheme in Odesa, involving conscripts using fake disability certificates, Ukraine’s State Border Guard Service reported.

3 April 2024, 10:00 AM

Kharkiv resident found dead in Tysa River in illegal border crossing attempt

Romanian border guards discovered the body of a man in the Tysa River, believed to have attempted an illegal exit from Ukraine by swimming across, Ukraine’s State Border Guard Service reported on March 18.

18 March 2024, 05:47 PM

Surge in illegal border crossings from Belarus, Poland says

Polish authorities have dealt with record-breaking 173 attempts to illegally cross the Polish-Belarusian border on March 11-12, Poland’s Border Guard Service reported on March 13.

13 March 2024, 09:50 PM

illegal border crossings