In the Zakarpattia region, officers from the Security Service of Ukraine, together with the National Police and border guards, dismantled an illegal smuggling operation involving men of military age. The scheme was orchestrated by two residents of Lviv region, aged 42 and 58, who were employed as cash couriers at a commercial bank.
To transport the draft evaders, the suspects used an armored cash-in-transit vehicle equipped with flashing lights, which allowed them to pass through regional checkpoints without suspicion. Inside the vehicle, a special compartment had been constructed to conceal the passengers.
Clients were charged $16,500 for the illegal trip to the border with Hungary, bypassing official crossing points. The payment was split — an initial amount was paid before departure, with the rest due after successful crossing.
Investigators traced the route from Lviv region to the town of Berehove, where the smugglers planned to guide the men through a wooded area into Hungarian territory.
The arrest occurred near the village of Janoshi in the Berehove district. Security forces intercepted the cash van at the moment the suspects were transporting another draft dodger. The man had already handed over part of the agreed sum for the smuggling service.
The individuals have been charged under Part 3 of Article 332 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine — illegal transportation of persons across the state border. This offense carries a penalty of up to nine years in prison.