Odessa law enforcement officers uncovered yet another scheme to evade mobilization through fictitious employment with the Security Service of Ukraine. 

According to the investigation, a 44-year-old resident of the city, upon learning that an acquaintance was looking for a way to obtain a deferment from conscription, began demanding 10,000 US dollars. In return, he promised to initially assist in removing the man from the wanted list and later arrange for his employment as a "freelance agent" in the Security Service, which would provide grounds for a deferment from mobilization. 

When the potential "client" started to delay with a positive response, the man began to exert pressure, threatening with imminent mobilization. 

In February 2026, the extortionist was detained near a gas station in Odessa while receiving the full amount of illegal benefit.

The Kyiv District Prosecutor's Office of Odessa has already informed him of the suspicion of abuse of influence (Part 2 of Article 28, Part 3 of Article 369-2 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine).

Operational support in the criminal proceedings is provided by the Odessa Department of the State Bureau of Investigations of the National Police. The pre-trial investigation is conducted by the territorial police unit.

Recall that in February of this year, the prosecutor's office reported suspicion of abuse of influence against a lawyer and the director of a hospital. Each of them organized their schemes to avoid conscription through connections with the right officials.  

Note: according to Article 62 of the Constitution of Ukraine, a person is considered 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 guilty verdict of the court.