Widespread Scheme to Illegally Deregister Conscripts Uncovered
A large-scale operation that illegally removed military-age men from official registration was active in the Zakarpattia region between 2022 and 2024. The scheme, discovered under the “Reverse Side of the TCC and VLC” initiative, was orchestrated by a former head of the Mukachevo district TCC and his subordinate. For payments ranging from $5,000 to $10,000, they falsified entries in military registration, medical, and other official records, allowing men to be declared unfit for service without any legal justification. This is particularly concerning because Ukraine’s armed forces depend on accurate registration data during wartime mobilization.
Fallout and Ongoing Investigation
At least 1,577 individuals were groundlessly removed from the military registry, with 1,142 of them supposedly deemed unfit due to health conditions. In August 2024, attempting to cover their tracks, the then-head of the TCC issued a bogus act of document destruction and disposed of certificates, VLC decisions, and other medical files—records that by law had to be preserved for 75 years.
Investigators managed to reconstruct the evidence using data from the National Health Service of Ukraine, witness testimonies, and expert analyses. So far, 120 people have been reinstated on the military rolls. Seventeen searches were conducted at the homes and workplaces of current and former Mukachevo TCC staff, VLC members, and other individuals linked to the case. Two former officials have been notified of suspicion of obstructing the lawful activities of Ukraine’s Armed Forces during a special period. Prosecutors will push for detention without the possibility of bail. The investigation is ongoing, with the roles of specific VLC members and other possible participants still being established.
This situation underscores the critical need for transparency and adherence to the law in Ukraine’s military registration system, particularly under martial law. Source: unknown
Illegal deregistration on such a scale could seriously undermine the country’s defense capability. As the investigation continues, its findings may drive further reforms in military registration and conscription procedures.