Ukrainian authorities have initiated a mass operation to close down routes used by military-aged men attempting to evade conscription by fleeing the country. On Friday, Ukrainian police reported that over 600 simultaneous raids were being conducted across the nation by the Security Services of Ukraine (SBU) and National Police investigators.
This large-scale crackdown is part of Kyiv’s intensified mobilization efforts aimed at reinforcing its military forces as they face continued pressure from Russia’s larger army advancing in eastern Ukraine nearly three years after the full-scale invasion.
The controversial campaign has sparked fear among conscription-eligible men, with thousands reportedly fleeing the country through illegal smuggling routes, including perilous paths over mountains and rivers into Europe.
Authorities stated that the current focus is on dismantling networks facilitating illegal border crossings. “This is just the first stage of a special operation aimed at blocking the channels of trafficking men of military age abroad,” the police statement clarified, promising further updates once investigative actions are concluded.
Kyiv continues to grapple with corruption in its military conscription system. In late 2023, former prosecutor general Andriy Kostin resigned after a corruption scandal linked to draft exemptions for government officials. President Volodymyr Zelensky also dismissed the heads of regional draft offices amid the ongoing reforms to tighten mobilization processes.