Andriy Demchenko, spokesman for the Ukrainian border guards, said on Monday, the 29th of April, that about 30 Ukrainian men had died trying to cross the Ukrainian borders illegally to avoid being drawn into the war against Russia that started in 2022, citing news agency Ukrinform, reports Reuters.
With a few exceptions, Ukrainian men aged between 18 and 60 are not allowed to leave the country because they could be mobilised under Ukraine’s martial law.
“Some lost their lives trying to cross a mountain river or crossing mountains,”
Andriy Demchenko was quoted as saying.
According to the State Border Guard Service, 24 men have died trying to cross the Tisza river on Ukraine’s border with Romania.
Demchenko said that since the start of the war, border guards have detected about 450 criminal groups that have tried to smuggle people across the border.
“Attempts to cross the border illegally happen every day,” Demchenko said. “Most of these attempts take place outside checkpoints on the borders with Moldova and Romania. The highest number of forged documents has been registered on the border with Poland.”
Earlier in April, Demchenko told the Ukrainian state broadcaster that
on average ten men were being stopped every day trying to leave Ukraine illegally.
Last week, Ukraine suspended consular services for military-age men until the 18th of May, criticising Ukrainians abroad who, according to Ukraine, hope to get help from the country without helping it fight for survival in the war against Russia.
According to a BBC report published in November, based on data from illegal border crossings in Romania, Moldova, Poland, Hungary and Slovakia, almost 20 000 men have fled Ukraine since the start of the war to avoid being drafted into the army.
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Also read: Poland ready to help Ukraine bring back men of military age
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