Deserter set up illegal channel to smuggle soldiers abroad in Zaporizhzhia – SBI. PHOTOS

In Zaporizhzhia, officers of the State Bureau of Investigation (SBI), in cooperation with the Security Service of Ukraine (SSU), exposed a serviceman who went AWOL and later organized an illegal channel to smuggle other soldiers abroad.

This was reported by the Bureau's press service, according to Censor.NET.

Illegal profit scheme

According to the investigation, the suspect deserted his unit several months ago but possessed a veteran’s ID confirming combat participation prior to the full-scale invasion.

This allowed him to move freely around the country. The deserter decided to profit from helping others evade military service and flee abroad. He involved his girlfriend in the illegal activity.

In Zaporizhzhia, the couple found another "client." For $6,000, they offered a so-called "basic desertion package": transport from the unit in their own car to a border area where the client could illegally cross into Romania. As a "bonus," they claimed to provide a route that would allegedly avoid having to swim across the Tisza River.

For an additional $500 they provided a "European escort" — assistance with onward logistics all the way to Germany.

The fugitive client paid a deposit, and en route the suspect collected the remaining half of the fee — $3,000.

Arrest and suspicion

However, he did not manage to complete the "deal": he was detained by employees of the State Bureau of Investigation together with the Security Service of Ukraine in a neighbouring region.

The serviceman has been notified of suspicion of organising the illegal transfer of persons across the state border of Ukraine (Part 3 of Article 332 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine); attempted aiding and abetting desertion (Part 2 of Article 15, Part 5 of Article 27, Part 4 of Article 408 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine).