In a year, the number of detained Ukrainian draft dodgers who tried to flee to Belarus increased fourfold

Illustrative photo

Escape Statistics

In 2025, Ukrainian border guards detained 1424 men of military age for attempting to cross the Ukrainian-Belarusian border, the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine (SBGS) told journalists from the BIC and the Ukrainian publication "Slidstvo.Info". This is four times more than in the previous year (326 people), and 356 times more than in 2023 (4).

“This year (in 2025 — ed.) we are seeing a certain increase, when compared to other years, in the number of those we detain for attempting illegal border crossings. […] The direction of the border with Belarus is significantly lower in terms of indicators than, for example, the border with Romania or the border with Moldova. But, again, there is growth,” said Andriy Demchenko, assistant head of the SBGS, to journalists.

Last year, more men were detained at the Ukrainian-Belarusian border than at the Ukrainian-Polish border. While in 2024, 467 draft dodgers were caught at the border with Poland, and 326 with Belarus, last year the number of those who wanted to enter Belarus increased by almost 4.5 times.

According to Ukrainian border guards, the Belarusian direction entered the top five in terms of the number of detained conscripts. Higher are Hungary (1841 people), Slovakia (2265), Moldova (4937), with Romania in first place (10066). Following Belarus are the border with Poland (511 people in 2025) and with Russia (one person).

Cost of Escapes

In a comment to journalists, Yuriy Shakhraychuk, head of the press service of the 9th Border Detachment named after the Sich Riflemen, which patrols the Ukrainian-Belarusian border, reported that the detachment's forces “have already identified more than 70 organized criminal groups involved specifically in smuggling people across the border.”

A BIC journalist spoke with a representative of one such group on Telegram. He offered to buy a proven escape route from Ukraine or pay for a “turnkey” service: ordering a car with an experienced driver who would bypass checkpoints in Ukraine and bring them to the border at a time when “their shift” of border guards would be on duty on the Belarusian side. For assistance in illegal departure for two men, the interlocutor asked for $16 thousand. This amount includes organizing the escape to Belarus, and then — to the EU.

“Look, you will be picked up from Kyiv, you will be picked up from any point. There is no problem with that. You will be picked up directly from your home. […] You pay only when you are already in the car. Exclusively,” he assured.

Павялічыць

Photo: BIC

During martial law in Ukraine, men aged 23 to 60 have limited ability to leave the country. Only those who fall under the border crossing rules and have the appropriate documents for it can do so, for example, those who have lost close relatives in the war.

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