Smugglers are using Telegram groups to sell their services to Ukrainian draft dodgers, per the BBC.
AdvertisementSmugglers are using Telegram to sell their services to Ukrainian men trying to flee the army's compulsory military conscription, according to a BBC investigation .
The reporter, named Andrey by the outlet, spent a month corresponding with smugglers as a prospective Ukrainian draft dodger.
Services being offered included creating fake medical exemptions, adding pretend children to families, and organizing illegal border crossings, Andrey told the outlet.
Smugglers told Andrey that the price included a bribe for the official making them, he said — a sign of the persisting corruption among Ukrainian officials.
Persons:
—, Andrey, Ukraine's Ministry of Defence didn't, Venislavskyi
Organizations:
dodgers, BBC . Services, Service, BBC, dodger, Services, Ukraine's Ministry of Defence, National Security
Locations:
Ukrainian, Ukraine, Romania, Moldova, Poland, Hungary, Slovakia