"Ambulance for draft dodgers": medics in the Cherkasy region sold fake treatment

In Cherkasy, the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) announced the dismantling of a large-scale scheme to evade mobilization, in which, according to investigators, local medical workers were involved. According to law enforcement, those liable for military service were offered to undergo fictitious inpatient treatment, obtain medical conclusions about “poor health”, and later receive a status of unfit for military service. The cost of such “services”, according to the SBU, started from 4 thousand US dollars.

According to the case materials, the scheme was organized by the head of the regional branch of a nationwide medical company, who involved six other doctors of various specialties and ambulance staff. The investigation believes that “clients” were registered for fictitious treatment through staged calls to the 103 line: designated crews documented hospitalizations, and then medical facilities falsified test results and examinations.

After that, according to law enforcement, based on the falsified medical documents, draftees were issued medical conclusions stating serious illnesses and efforts were made to obtain for them the status of unfit for service. The organizer was detained while receiving part of a bribe from one of the “clients”. During searches, investigators seized rough notes, medical documentation, phones and other evidence.

According to the prosecutor’s office, at least four incidents of issuing fictitious documents were documented, and a total of 16 searches in the Cherkasy and Vinnytsia regions were carried out.

So far all participants in the scheme have been notified of suspicion under several articles of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, in particular part 2 of Article 28, part 1 of Article 114-1, part 2 of Article 369-2 and part 3 of Article 358. Two of the suspects are already in custody; decisions on preventive measures for the others are pending.

The maximum possible punishment, according to law enforcement, is up to 8 years imprisonment with confiscation of property.

Previously we wrote:

• The director of a national park in Mykolaiv region is suspected of issuing fake salaries and deferrals from mobilization
• “Reserve+” and fake certificates: how they sold risk‑free service in Mykolaiv region
• Fake medical certificates during the war: the former head of the MSEK is on trial in Mykolaiv
• In Mykolaiv the organizer of a scheme to remove people from military registration for $8,200 will stand trial
• Gas pipe, luggage racks and fake certificates: the SBU uncovered 8 organizers of “draft‑dodging schemes”