Ukraine border chaos: Thousands detained, loopholes exploited
Since the beginning of 2022, nearly 30,000 people have been detained while trying to escape from Ukraine, and another 44,900 have crossed the border illegally. The Temporary Investigative Commission warns that the scale of this phenomenon is growing, and the system is full of loopholes and abuses.
A meeting of the Temporary Investigative Commission was held in Kyiv, focusing on the issue of illegal border crossing. Attendees included representatives from the State Border Guard Service, National Police, Prosecutor General's Office, Ministry of Community and Territory Development, and the Security Service of Ukraine.
Tens of thousands of men left Ukraine despite the ban
Data presented during the proceedings show that since the beginning of 2022, nearly 30,000 people have been detained while attempting to illegally leave the country, and another 44,900 have crossed the border illegally.
As a result, over 7,000 criminal proceedings have been initiated; however, the number of cases concluded with court verdicts is just over 400.
Among the most commonly used methods for illegal departure are using false documents—for example, medical certificates, certificates of studying abroad, claiming status as a father of multiple children, or court decisions on child care.
Loopholes, corruption, and fake documents
There are also frequent attempts to cross the border without facing border control, traveling using passports of other countries, exiting through occupied territories and Russia, as well as trips under the "Szlach" system as alleged drivers of humanitarian transports.
The commission also pointed to a number of systemic problems. For instance, there is no unified list of documents required at the border, resulting in discretionary decision-making.
The closure of the "Szlach" system for volunteers has made it more difficult to deliver aid to soldiers, and the lack of electronic archiving of documents prevents later verification of the legality of departures. Attention was also drawn to the lack of oversight over returns—some individuals, including athletes and officials, do not return within the designated timeframe, and informing the authorities about this is often delayed.
Concerns were also raised about the nature of documents from state structures, including the Main Intelligence Directorate and military administrations—the commission deemed them potentially prone to corruption and demanded their verification.
Due to the state of war, men of conscription age are prohibited from leaving the country.
