A senior Ukrainian military official who had the authority to decide whether conscripts were fit for military service has been arrested and will be held for 60 days pending trial, along with cash that security officials allegedly found on his premises. The image was released.
The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) continues a major crackdown on draft evaders and those behind “evasion schemes” (often corrupt officials extorting cash in order to obtain draft exemption documents). , the chief psychiatrist of the Ukrainian Armed Forces was caught in its net. Ukrainian suspect Ole Druz was arrested on Tuesday.
Ukraine's domestic intelligence agency said in a statement that Druze was arrested over his sudden and unexplained wealth, having apparently acquired $1 million in “unsubstantiated assets” since the Russian invasion began. He is said to have purchased several properties throughout Ukraine, including houses, apartments, and a number of luxury cars.
In addition to these purchases, the SBU announced that it had found $152,000 and 34,000 euros ($35,000) in cash during a search of the house. Images shared by the agency showed them laying out seized U.S. banknotes on the floor and furniture, a typical feature of gang bust reports from Ukrainian intelligence.
Druze, who was previously photographed wearing the insignia of Colonel of the Ukrainian Armed Forces Medical Corps, appeared in court Wednesday morning without any decorations and was held on $1.1 million bail and a medical guard pending trial. He was ordered to spend 60 days in a facility.
Ukrainian publisher Outage report Druze told the court he was in poor health and suffered a heart attack during the arrest. He said the now widely circulated images released by the domestic spy agency of alleged dirty money being strewn about his home were fake.
In its report, the SBU notes that Druz, in his role as the chief psychiatrist of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, is responsible for determining the suitability of individual conscripts for military service. , it appears possible that Mr. Druze may have fraudulently used his position to obtain benefits. Cash exemption certificate, but this has not yet been proven in court.
Druze's arrest appears to be part of the SBU's ongoing anti-draft evasion efforts in recent weeks, including nationwide raids on individuals and suspected criminal organizations who have failed to respond to muster forms. is being carried out. They accept cash in exchange for removing men from military service. As reported last week, the Ukrainian National Police searched 800 addresses across the country.
As stated then:
Ukraine has more than 1 million conscripts, but thousands of its citizens evade muster orders and registration in national databases. As previously reported in 2023, by that time 20,000 men of military age are known to have illegally fled the country across the Ukrainian border.
Ukraine's border guards later said they had captured another 21,000 people at the border and brought them back into the country. Many likely fled out of fear for their lives, but attempting to travel abroad is not without risks, and the Ukrainian government announced that in spring 2024, 30 people died trying to flee the country. He said he knew what he had done.
A government spokesperson said the deaths occurred while attempting to escape from Ukraine by crossing dangerous mountain passes or swimming in border rivers, or in some cases by being attacked in the wilderness by wild animals, perhaps common bears. said. In that part of Europe. Some people reportedly froze to death while trying to cross the Carpathian Mountains.
The Ukrainian government claimed that the sudden crackdown on draft evaders had caused “panic” among criminal organizations. In further announcements from the SBU this week, police allegedly dismantled six “mobilization avoidance schemes” on Wednesday and arrested 19 people. “The suspects traded fake medical certificates and smuggled evaders overseas outside checkpoints for money,” police said.
Druz is not the only Ukrainian military officer charged with aiding and abetting draft evaders. In 2023, President Zelenskiy fired all regional heads of military recruitment centers after officials were caught accepting cash for industrial-scale exemptions. President Zelenskiy said: “This system should be run by people who know exactly what war is and why cynicism and bribery during war is treason.”
After the entire group was fired, those who were not found guilty of bribery would be expected to “prove their worth” by going to the front lines and fighting, he said.
Ukraine has recently Announcement of new initiatives This is to bring back the millions of people who fled the country at the start of the war. Kiev has been frank about its need for soldiers, but has also promised to exempt those who return to work in key industries such as power grids from military service.
