Crossing the border for $10,000, bribing a border guard for $3,000: the schemes for leaving Ukraine have changed and the prices for such services have increased

The adoption of stricter mobilization laws in Ukraine and the implementation of mandatory presentation of military registration documents for border crossing starting July 17 have significantly changed the market for services related to the departure of military-aged men abroad.

At the beginning of the war, the main ways to leave the country were through documents declaring unfitness for military service due to illness and the “Shlyakh” system. However, these methods have now become more complicated and expensive. The cost of obtaining a “white ticket” package in major cities can reach up to $20,000, without any guarantee of successful departure. Even with these documents, crossing the border can still be problematic, as border guards might claim insufficient documentation and send people back.

The “Shlyakh” system has also become more complicated, and the number of firms offering such services has significantly decreased. Offers related to “Shlyakh” are still available but less frequent, often involving real drivers who decide not to return to Ukraine. Such cases became more common in May, especially before and after the mobilization law took effect.

Other semi-legal methods, such as fake guardianship over a person with disabilities or marriage to a mother of multiple children, have also become less accessible. Even with all necessary documents, border guards can refuse exit, citing a lack of documentation.

The “call from above” method for crossing the border still exists but is available to very few. As a result, there has been a rise in demand for fully illegal border crossings outside official checkpoints. The prices for such services have sharply increased: in the fall of 2023, a pedestrian crossing cost $1,000-$2,000, by spring it had risen to $3,000-$5,000, and currently, prices start at $7,000-$8,000 for the simplest crossing. The average market price is $10,000-$12,000 per person.

Despite the high prices, demand exceeds supply, and the waiting period for departure can be about a month. Scammers are actively exploiting the rush, offering “tour trips” and collecting advances before disappearing. Unqualified “agents” can lead to detention by border guards or the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU).

Residents of border villages organize caravans of potential illegal crossers. On June 25 in the Odesa region, a group of 100 people was detained. There are rumors of intelligence service involvement, but no confirmations. Law enforcement often uncovers such schemes with the help of “undercover” individuals.

In the context of mass illegal border crossings, the role of border guards in corruption schemes has increased. Since the beginning of the war, several business schemes for crossing the border have emerged within the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine. Previously, the most popular scheme involved the departure of draft evaders with the participation of other agencies. The price for such a departure in 2022 was $6,500-$7,000, and now it ranges from $11,000 to $15,000.

Sometimes border guards allow people to pass with fake documents, which costs more. They also sell information about patrol routes along the border, enabling illegal crossers to pass safely. This service costs between $1,000 and $3,000.

Another scheme involves border guards independently escorting evaders during patrols. The cost of this service is $3,000 to $5,000. The risks in this scheme are high, and failure could result in the border guard losing their personal freedom.

Despite all the risks, the demand for illegal border crossings remains high, leading to increased prices and the temptation to profit from it.