‘Ukrainians are paying billions of dollars in bribes to avoid mobilization into the army’, – MP said

Ukrainians pay up to $2 billion in bribes annually to avoid being mobilized into the army.

This information reported according to Dmytro Natalukha, a member of parliament from the “Sluga Naroda” party.

“Based on the most reasonable estimates, the volumes of shadow ‘economic reservations’ start from $700 million and reach up to $2 billion per year,” said the deputy.

Journalists have frequently reported that an increasing number of Ukrainian men are unwilling to join the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) and are attempting to bribe their way out of service.

For instance, a deputy from the Uzhhorod City Council was caught demanding bribes from conscripts for deferment from mobilization. According to the investigation, a social policy department official was soliciting money from conscripts seeking deferment due to family circumstances. The official guaranteed an expedited process for obtaining certificates confirming the care of individuals with disabilities in exchange for various amounts of bribes.

Additionally, Viktor Saenkov, a deputy from the Berehove City Council representing Petro Poroshenko’s “European Solidarity” party, received $14,000 for illegally facilitating a draft dodger’s escape across the border.