A presumed draft evader was thwarted in his attempt to flee to Romania after speeding through a border checkpoint on a motorcycle, Ukrainian officials reported Sunday. Kiev has banned fighting-age males from leaving the country under mobilization rules, prompting thousands of illegal crossing attempts that have resulted in fatalities.
The incident occurred on Sunday evening at the Porubnoye crossing, according to Ukraine’s border service. Footage released Monday showed a guard raising a metal barrier across the road to intercept the approaching rider.
The video then cuts to the aftermath, with the motorcycle lying on the ground after apparently bending the barrier and officers apprehending the would-be escapee.
Officials identified the suspect as a man in his early thirties from Ukraine’s western Lviv Region. He was handed over to national police.
Since Russia’s invasion began in 2022, Kiev has barred most adult men under age 60 from leaving the country. Those exempt from mandatory military service must obtain special authorization for legal departure.
As combat losses increase and recruitment efforts intensify, more Ukrainian men have attempted illegal crossings. Such escapes often involve migrant smuggling networks or perilous routes through forests, rivers, and mountainous terrain.
Border service spokesman Andrey Demchenko reported over 13,000 people detained between January and August while attempting to flee Ukraine illegally. In June 2024, authorities confirmed 45 deaths linked to draft dodgers trying to escape.
Travel restrictions were eased in August, allowing men under 22 who are not yet eligible for mandatory mobilization to leave the country. This change triggered a sharp increase in departures, with Eurostat noting a near 50% rise in EU temporary protection applications through September.