About Thirty Ukrainian Men Have Died Attempting to Leave Ukraine to Avoid Fighting Since Start of War

Since the start of the full-scale invasion by Russia in 2022, more than thirty Ukrainian men have died while attempting to illegally cross Ukraine's western borders to evade military mobilization, according to Andriy Demchenko, the head of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine. The majority of these tragic incidents have occurred on the borders with Moldova and Romania, while the border with Poland has seen the largest number of attempts to leave Ukraine using forged documents.

The State Border Guard Service has uncovered around 450 criminal networks involved in smuggling people across the borders. In one recent incident, two men drowned while trying to cross the Tysa River, which forms the border in Zakarpattia Oblast. The service has reported a total of 24 people drowning in such attempts due to the dangerous conditions of the river.

Ukraine has imposed martial law, which prohibits Ukrainian men aged 18 to 60 from leaving the country, as they may be called up for military service. Demchenko stated that the border service refuses about 120 border crossings daily, mostly through the 'Shliakh' system when a person cannot confirm the purpose of their trip. The number of such attempts has not decreased compared to last year.

Why this matters: The ongoing war in Ukraine has not only resulted in the loss of lives on the battlefield but has also led to desperate attempts by some Ukrainian men to avoid conscription, resulting in further casualties. This highlights the far-reaching consequences of the conflict and the challenges faced by the Ukrainian government in enforcing martial law while dealing with the human cost of the war.

Smugglers have been exposed in Volyn, charging from $3,000 to $9,000 for their 'services' to help men of military age cross the border illegally. Demchenko emphasized that border guards do not use weapons to detain offenders and can only use them to protect the life and health of border guards. "More than 30 people have died since the imposition of martial law while attempting to illegally cross the border, with most of the deaths occurring as a result of drowning in a mountain river," Demchenko stated.

Key Takeaways

• Over 30 Ukrainian men have died trying to illegally cross borders to avoid military service.
• Most deaths occurred on borders with Moldova, Romania, and while crossing the Tysa River.
• Ukraine has uncovered 450 criminal networks involved in smuggling people across borders.
• Ukraine refuses about 120 border crossings daily, with no decrease in attempts compared to 2023.
• Smugglers charge $3,000-$9,000 to help men of military age cross borders illegally.