Ukraine: Deadly Smuggling Exploits War Escape
At least 30 Ukrainian citizens have died attempting to flee the country since February 2022, according to Andriy Demchenko, Chief of Ukraine's Border Police.
In an interview with Ukrinform, Demchenko revealed that organised human trafficking rings are exploiting Ukrainians seeking to escape the war. These groups charge exorbitant fees but provide no proper preparation for the dangerous journeys, often directing people towards remote, unsecured border crossings.
"The majority of these illegal crossings occur outside official checkpoints, particularly on the borders with Moldova and Romania," Demchenko said. "The Polish border sees the most attempts using forged documents." He explained that most Ukrainians seeking to leave are not attempting to navigate these crossings alone; they are hiring smugglers who offer false promises of safe passage.
Demchenko highlighted the perilous nature of these clandestine journeys. "It is astounding that people are willing to pay such vast sums of money without knowing who they are dealing with," he remarked. "They receive some instructions, transfer money to dubious accounts, only to find out later that the route involves crossing a treacherous mountain river. Many people simply don't have the strength to make such a crossing."
On top of these dangers, wild animals in the mountainous border regions pose another serious threat to life. Since the implementation of martial law, Ukrainian authorities have cracked down on approximately 450 criminal groups specialising in smuggling people out of the country. Demchenko also reported that border officials stop around 120 people each day, many because they cannot provide a legitimate reason for their travel.
Ukraine recently lowered the minimum age for mandatory military service from 27 to 25 years old. This move aims to bolster the country's armed forces as they grapple with the ongoing war following Russia's full-scale invasion over two years ago. The new mobilisation law was signed into law by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in early April, following its adoption by the Verkhovna Rada, the Ukrainian Parliament, last year.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
