Within the framework of the program to expose facts of assistance, organization, and illegal transportation of conscripted individuals across the state border of Ukraine “Illegal Tourism,” an indictment has been sent to court regarding two border guards in Odesa region. 

Thus, the head of one of the inspector departments and a former border guard are accused under part 3 of article 332 and part 2 of article 28 part 2 of article 369-2 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, namely — for organizing illegal transportation and receiving unlawful benefits for the promise to influence the decisions of authorized persons, committed in conspiracy.

The investigation established that in August 2025, the accomplices found a man who had no legal grounds for leaving the country and offered him “assistance” in crossing. They assured him that they had connections among the officials of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine and could ensure unhindered exit to the unrecognized Transnistrian Moldovan Republic.

They communicated with the “client” via messenger, using football code words. For example, “participation in the game” — meaning transportation — was valued at 3,000 US dollars.

Following the instructions of the accused, the man arrived in the Odesa region, from where the crossing was to take place. For his temporary stay, the accused rented an apartment, where they received the entire amount of money.

During this, the accused were detained in accordance with article 208 of the Criminal Procedure Code of Ukraine.

Under the procedural guidance of the Odesa Specialized Prosecutor's Office in the defense sphere of the Southern region, they were informed of the suspicion. The court chose a preventive measure in the form of detention with the possibility of posting bail in the amount of 452,200 hryvnias.

The pre-trial investigation was conducted by investigators of the Second Investigative Department (located in Odesa) of the Territorial Administration of the State Bureau of Investigation, based in Mykolaiv, with operational support from the Security Service of Ukraine in the Odesa region and the Department of Internal Security of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine.

Note: according to article 62 of the Constitution of Ukraine, a person is presumed innocent of committing a crime and cannot be subjected to criminal punishment until their guilt is proven in a lawful manner and established by a court verdict.