The State Bureau of Investigation detained a couple for assisting military personnel in avoiding service for 60,000 UAH.

Employees of the State Bureau of Investigation detained a couple in Zaporizhia who, for money, assisted military personnel in unlawfully leaving their place of service. This was reported on Tuesday, January 28, by the press service of the SBI.

The detainees are a lawyer and an employee of a law enforcement agency. When a military officer called the lawyer, he promised to help him leave the service location and, if necessary, provide full legal support after the escape. With the assistance of the lawyer's wife, who is also a law enforcement officer, the couple gained access to confidential information regarding checkpoints and their passwords.

“Using the woman's official ID, the couple picked up military personnel in their own vehicle and ensured their unobstructed passage to locations where they subsequently hid from service. According to the obtained data, the couple managed to conduct about ten such operations, and their services cost up to 60,000 UAH per person,” the SBI's report states.

The SBI detained the lawyer while he was receiving money from a military officer for the provided "service." Law enforcement also apprehended three deserters who had left their place of service with the couple’s assistance and were hiding in Zaporizhia.

The couple has been charged with obstructing the lawful activities of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and aiding desertion (part 1 of article 114-1, part 5 of article 27, part 4 of article 408 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine). The three detained military personnel are accused of desertion (part 4 of article 408 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine). The suspects face a penalty of up to 12 years of imprisonment.

The court has already chosen preventive measures for all suspects – detention with the possibility of bail.

Recall that on January 9, the Verkhovna Rada extended the deadline for voluntary return from AWOL (unauthorized absence from duty) to March 1. If this is the first occurrence, the military personnel will avoid criminal liability for leaving their place of service.