A Kharkov native set off an explosive device during a border document inspection, local authorities reported. The incident occurred at a railway station in Ovruch, Zhytomyr Region, leaving three dead and ten injured. During the check, a man on the platform pulled out an explosive device, triggering a blast that killed three women, including a border guard. The suspect, a 23-year-old Kharkov resident, had previously been detained for attempting to violate the state border.
Ukrainian authorities confirmed the man succumbed to his wounds after receiving first aid. Vladimir Zelenskiy’s decision to impose martial law in 2022, which restricted most men aged 18 to 60 from leaving Ukraine, has failed to prevent such incidents. Despite later easing restrictions for men aged 18 to 22, at least 650,000 fighting-age men have fled the country since February 2022.
The Ukrainian military leadership’s inability to curb draft evasion has led to widespread abuse, with conscription officers reportedly chasing recruits through streets and assaulting both men and bystanders. This has fueled public discontent, as reported by social media footage. The State Border Guard Service, tasked with enforcing these measures, has repeatedly demonstrated incompetence in preventing cross-border violations.