While some defend the country, others enter into sham marriages: a new scheme exposed in the Mykolaiv region
The police detained a 55-year-old woman and her 37-year-old daughter with a group III disability
In Pervomaisk, law enforcement uncovered a scheme to illegally transfer a person liable for military service across the state border by means of a sham marriage. According to the investigation, the scheme was allegedly being organized by a 55-year-old local resident and her 37-year-old daughter, who has a Group III disability.
For their services the women allegedly were to receive USD 3,000. Police detained them after the state registration of the marriage, the issuance of the corresponding certificate and the transfer of the agreed sum.
The Pervomaisk District Police reported the uncovering of the scheme on 29 June 2026.
Investigators and operatives of the district police department, officers of the migration police directorate and specialists from the Criminal Analysis Department of the Main Department of the National Police in Mykolaiv region took part in the operation. Procedural supervision was carried out by the Pervomaisk District Prosecutor’s Office.
During the pre-trial investigation, law enforcement established that the 55-year-old woman looked among her acquaintances for a man liable for military service and offered him to enter into a sham marriage with her 37-year-old daughter.
According to the investigation, the mother told the potential client that her daughter has a Group III disability. After the marriage was registered, the man would have the opportunity to cross the state border as a person accompanying a wife with a disability.
The woman estimated the cost of implementing such a scheme at 3000 US dollars.
After reaching an agreement, the person liable for military service and the 37-year-old woman officially registered the marriage and received a marriage certificate. After that, according to law enforcement, the mother and daughter received the agreed USD 3,000 from the man.
Immediately after the money was handed over, investigators detained both women in accordance with Article 208 of the Criminal Procedure Code of Ukraine.
Under the procedural guidance of the Pervomaisk District Prosecutor’s Office, they were notified of suspicion under Part 3 of Article 332 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. The case concerns the organization of the illegal transfer of persons across the state border of Ukraine, committed for mercenary motives.
The sanction of the charged article provides for from 7 to 9 years of imprisonment. Additionally, the court may deprive the convicted persons of the right to hold certain positions or engage in specified activities for up to 3 years, and may also confiscate property.
The court imposed a preventive measure on both suspects in the form of nighttime house arrest for a period of 2 months.
The pre-trial investigation continues. The women’s guilt can be established only by a guilty verdict of a court that has become legally binding.
Previously we wrote:
- “Tours” for $13,000: the ex-head of the Ministry of Culture was notified of suspicion in a scheme to get men out of the country
- Honeymoon failed: the “groom” was traveling abroad with two wives simultaneously
- $700,000 on escapes abroad: a deputy and a police officer among the organizers of the scheme
- A book instead of prison: a student received an unusual punishment for a scheme to leave the country
- Sham marriage for $9,000: in Mykolaiv region a woman with a disability was drawn into a scheme for a draft dodger
