A high-profile corruption scheme has been dismantled in Kharkiv, involving a current employee of the Slobidskyi Territorial Center for Recruitment and Social Support (TCC) and a former member of the disbanded ‘Berkut’ special police unit. As reported by the Kharkiv Regional Prosecutor’s Office, the suspects operated a channel for smuggling draft-eligible men across the Ukrainian state border.
Investigations reveal that the suspects, acting in collusion, promised citizens safe passage abroad outside of official checkpoints. They claimed to have influential connections within the State Border Guard Service, assuring their ‘clients’ of a smooth transit during specific duty shifts. The price for this illegal service was set at $18,000.
The intricate plan involved transporting individuals from Kharkiv to western Ukraine, followed by a crossing into Slovakia. The organizers promised that their professional connections would neutralize any security obstacles. However, their operations were brought to an end on May 13 when law enforcement officers apprehended the suspects while they were accepting an $8,000 down payment.
Both individuals have been notified of suspicion under Part 3 of Article 332 (illegal transport of persons across the state border) and Part 3 of Article 369-2 (abuse of influence) of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. A court has since remanded both men to custody without the possibility of bail.
This incident highlights the ongoing challenges in maintaining the integrity of military mobilization efforts. As Ukraine continues to purge its institutions of corrupt elements and combat internal threats—much like the recent operations targeting intelligence assets, such as when the SBU exposed an FSB agent in Nikopol—law enforcement agencies remain vigilant. The eradication of such illicit networks, which recently saw similar large-scale schemes dismantled in Kyiv involving over 1,000 potential evaders, remains a critical priority to ensure national security and uphold the rule of law during the ongoing war.