Organized Evasion Scheme of Mobilization in Odesa: Public Organization Exposed
Law enforcement authorities announced the exposure of a mobilization evasion scheme in Odesa, organized by the public organization “Ukraine is Mother” and its volunteer formation. The organizers offered “protection” from mobilization for a financial reward.
According to the investigation, the leader of the organization, two of his deputies, and two other members colluded with employees of the Territorial Center of Recruitment (TCR) in Odesa region. Law enforcement authorities discovered that for $1000 participants could receive a membership certificate granting certain protection from mobilization but obliging them to patrol the city. A package without patrols was provided for $3000.
Clients were included in a Telegram channel where they were informed about the location of TCR patrols and given instructions on how to act during checks. A monthly “subscription fee” was 3000 hryvnias, and refusal to pay could result in threats of mobilization.
Prosecutor General Ruslan Kravchenko noted that the investigation confirmed the real impact of the scheme on the TCR’s function: individuals with certificates avoided mobilization during the special operation. It generated up to 30 million hryvnias for the organizers per month. At the time of exposure, the organization had about 300 members in the Odesa region, and up to 1500 across Ukraine.
On February 24, police and SBU conducted 64 searches, seizing over 1.6 million hryvnias in various currencies, six firearms, 38 grenade launchers, six vehicles, and dozens of certificates and seals. Suspects were taken into custody without the right to bail, and an investigation was initiated regarding the involvement of TCR officials in abuse of office.
| Number of Searches | Confiscated Funds | Weapons | Participants | Organizers’ Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 64 | over 1.6 million UAH | 6 units | up to 1500 people | up to 30 million UAH per month |
As previously reported, on February 23, NABU uncovered an SBU employee in Kyiv receiving $68,000 for a mobilization delay. On the same day, Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov announced plans to reform the mobilization process in the country.
