Loopholes and evasion: Ukraine's border crisis intensifies
Since the start of 2022, nearly 30,000 individuals have been detained while trying to escape from Ukraine, with another 44,900 crossing the border illegally. The Temporary Investigative Commission warns that this phenomenon is expanding, and the system is rife with loopholes and abuses.
A meeting of the Temporary Investigative Commission was held in Kyiv to address the issue of illegal border crossings. Attendees included representatives from the State Border Guard Service, the National Police, the Prosecutor General's Office, the 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 indicates that since the start of 2022, nearly 30,000 people have been detained while attempting to leave the country illegally, and another 44,900 have crossed the border unlawfully.
This has resulted in over 7,000 criminal proceedings being initiated; however, the number of cases concluded with court verdicts is just over 400.
Among the most common methods for illegal departure are using false documents, such as medical certificates, certificates of studying abroad, claims of being a father of multiple children, or court decisions on child care.
Loopholes, corruption, and fake documents
Frequent attempts to cross the border include travelling without going through border control, using passports from other countries, exiting through occupied territories and Russia, and taking trips under the "Szlach" system as supposed drivers of humanitarian transports.
The commission identified several systemic issues. For example, there is no unified list of documents required at the border, leading to discretionary decision-making.
The closure of the "Szlach" system for volunteers has complicated aid delivery to soldiers, and the lack of electronic archiving hampers future verification of the legality of departures. Concerns were also raised about oversight of returns—some individuals, including athletes and officials, fail to return within the specified timeframe, and authorities are often notified late.
Concerns were also raised about 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.
