Children in an institution, money on a card, deferment in his pocket: how the “guardianship” scheme ended
After taking in two children to secure a deferment, he received 63,000 hryvnias from the state—and remained free
Subtitle: The children remained in state care, while the man received a mobilization deferment three times. The court gave him a suspended sentence.
In Mykolaiv Oblast, a man was appointed guardian of two minors deprived of parental care in order to avoid mobilization. In reality, however, he did not raise them, yet received a deferment from conscription three times and unlawfully obtained UAH 63,290 in state assistance. The court found him guilty under three articles of the Criminal Code but exempted him from serving time in prison.
The circumstances of the case are set out in the ruling of the Voznesensk City District Court of Mykolaiv Oblast dated October 28, 2026, published in the Unified State Register of Court Decisions.
He was appointed guardian but had no intention of raising the children
Ukrainian law allows guardians and caregivers of children deprived of parental care to obtain a deferment from mobilization. The man decided to take advantage of this provision.
He applied to the Children’s Services Department of the Novа Odesa City Council to be appointed guardian of two minors. At the time, they were in the full-time care of the state at the Antonivka Art Lyceum of the Mykolaiv Regional Council.
On November 22, 2024, the executive committee of the Nova Odesa City Council approved the guardianship and appointed the applicant as the children’s guardian.
However, the court found that from the outset the man had no intention of fulfilling his responsibilities to raise them. He used the documents he obtained to secure a deferment from military service.
He received a deferment three times while the children remained in care
After being appointed guardian, the man contacted the Territorial Recruitment and Social Support Center, submitting documents confirming his new status.
On their basis, he was granted a deferment from mobilization three times:
- in December 2024;
- in February 2025;
- in May 2025.
Throughout this period, the children remained at their educational institution in state care. The man did not actually care for them.
Moreover, from March 2025, another person had been providing actual care for the minors. Despite this, the accused continued using the documents he had obtained to secure a deferment.
Nearly UAH 16,000 a month: the state paid for children he did not raise
In addition to a deferment from mobilization, the man decided to take advantage of the opportunity to receive state assistance for children under guardianship.
To do so, he submitted an application and a declaration to the Social Protection Department of the Mykolaiv District State Administration.
The court found that the applicant knew he was not entitled to the payments because he was not actually caring for the children. Nevertheless, he provided false information in the documents.
On December 10, 2024, he was awarded assistance of UAH 15,980 per month.
In total, UAH 63,290 was transferred to the man’s bank account between December 2024 and March 2025.
The court identified this amount as material damage caused to the state through fraud.
Three criminal charges, but no prison time
During the criminal proceedings, the man fully admitted his guilt and entered into a plea agreement with the prosecutor.
The Voznesensk City District Court approved the agreement and found him guilty of three criminal offenses:
- Article 336 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine — evasion of conscription for military service during mobilization;
- Part 1 of Article 190 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine — fraud;
- Part 4 of Article 358 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine — use of a document known to be forged.
For the combined offenses, the man was sentenced to three years in prison.
However, he will not have to serve the sentence if he complies with the conditions set by the court. He was released from serving his sentence on probation, with a probationary period of one year.
During this period, the man must periodically report to the authorized probation authority and notify it of any changes to his place of residence, work, or study.
He repaid the state and donated UAH 50,000 to the Armed Forces of Ukraine
In sentencing, the court took into account circumstances that mitigated the accused’s culpability.
In particular, the man:
- fully admitted his guilt and expressed genuine remorse;
- had no prior convictions;
- repaid the state in full for the damage caused — UAH 63,290 — during the pretrial investigation;
- voluntarily donated UAH 50,000 to support the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
The case file also noted that by the time he entered into the agreement with the prosecutor, the convicted man already had another basis for a mobilization deferment: pursuing his education.
Thus, the man who obtained guardianship of two children to secure deferments and unlawfully received state assistance was ultimately sentenced to three years in prison, suspended for a one-year probationary period.
We previously reported:
- Up to $12,000 to evade mobilization: the entire medical commission suspected of involvement in a scheme
- A fake student for $10,000: lecturer promised a man three years free from mobilization
- Fake children, real dollars: scheme to get men out of Ukraine exposed
- Deferment from service through fake guardianship of children: scheme uncovered in Mykolaiv Oblast
- Man tried in Mykolaiv Oblast for manipulating IDP payments in Diia
