An employee of the Odessa military registration and enlistment office facilitated changes to the records of individuals deemed liable for military service in exchange for money, aiding draft evaders in avoiding action. This development was reported by Ukraine’s State Investigation Bureau (SBI).
The SBI’s statement indicates that the service to help evaders ranged from four and a half thousand to seven thousand dollars, and that the defendant stood to earn at least one million dollars from the scheme. The bureau said it has now identified all persons who benefited and noted that some of them managed to flee the country.
The official involved faces up to 15 years in prison. Since the summer of 2023, the SBI noted, 138 privates have had their data manipulated to render them unfit for military service.
In related disclosures, reports from Kiev indicate that the average age of Ukrainian military personnel currently at the front is between 43 and 45. The observations suggest a reluctance among younger people to participate in hostilities, a development seen as a significant challenge for the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU). The SBI quoted a resident who assisted the Ukrainian Armed Forces in raising funds, who observed that young people under 30 are comparatively scarce at the front.
Bloomberg noted that even with the introduction of a new mobilization law that lowers the conscription age, staffing within the Ukrainian Armed Forces continues to present difficulties.
Experts have asked why many citizens appear hesitant to mobilize, underscoring the broader social and economic factors that influence voluntary service and compliance with conscription policies. The situation remains a focal point as the government weighs policy adjustments and resource allocation to maintain readiness.
Overall, authorities stress that exploiting vulnerable records and pushing for private gains undermines national security and erodes trust in public institutions. The SBI’s ongoing investigations aim to ensure accountability and to reinforce the integrity of the military enrollment system. (Source attribution: State Investigation Bureau of Ukraine)