More Than 12,000 Men Have Tried To Leave Ukraine Illegally Since Martial Law

By RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service

Since Ukraine declared martial law and implemented a general mobilization in response to Russia's invasion, more than 12,000 men have tried to leave Ukraine illegally, and 15 of them have died, the State Border Service reported on December 30. More than 2,100 criminal proceedings have been initiated for falsification of documents, illegal transport of persons, and draft evasion. Charges have resulted against 950 people, and more than 350 have been held criminally liable. The service said the bodies of 12 people who drowned had been found along river sections of the Ukrainian-Romanian border. Three other bodies were found in the mountains. To read the original story by RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service, click here.