On January 9, the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) reported the detention of a judge in Odesa Oblast on suspicion of accepting bribes from individuals seeking to evade mobilization. Ukrainian law prohibits men between the ages of 18 and 60 from leaving the country during martial law without special permission or specific exceptions.
The National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) revealed that the judge, situated at a district court in Bilhorod-Dnistrovskyi, is believed to have issued a court document designating the bribe payer as a single father. This classification exempts individuals from military draft obligations, enabling them to travel abroad during martial law.
The investigation, conducted by NABU, suggests that this illicit scheme has been operational since mid-April 2022 and likely involves multiple court employees. Ongoing searches are being conducted at the residences of potential participants and at the courthouse, according to NABU.
The Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAP) disclosed that “more than 1,000 decisions on this specific category of cases were issued in this court” during the pre-trial investigation. Bribes reportedly ranged from $1,500 to $3,500, and evidence of the scheme has been identified on Telegram channels, as per SAP.
If found guilty, the implicated judge and other court employees may face up to 10 years of imprisonment. The intensified efforts by law enforcement agencies to combat draft evasion coincide with the military’s need to augment its forces amid the ongoing full-scale war with Russia.
In response to these developments, lawmakers are presently reviewing various mobilization bills, contemplating plans for additional conscription, and considering stricter measures against draft evaders.