Military Accountant Sentenced for Sham Marriage to Smuggle Man Abroad.

Military Accountant Receives Sentence

According to TSN.ua: A Kyiv court has sentenced a military unit accountant to five years in prison, with a three-year probationary period, for attempting to smuggle a man abroad via a fraudulent marriage for a fee of $9,000. The Darnytskyi District Court of Kyiv found the woman guilty under Part 3 of Article 332 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. This case highlights the ongoing legal crackdown on schemes designed to circumvent Ukraine's travel restrictions.

According to case materials, the accountant offered men a contract for a sham marriage to facilitate their departure from the country. The service cost $9,000, with half paid immediately after the marriage registration at the civil registry office (RATS) and the remainder due before crossing the border. A mandatory joint photoshoot was also arranged to avoid raising suspicions about the 'authenticity' of the couple's relationship with border guards.

Case Details

The marriage in question was registered on April 29, 2025, at the Administrative Services Center (TSNAP) of the Darnytskyi District State Administration. A significant detail is that the woman is a Group III disabled person and has received positive character references from her workplace at the military unit. Furthermore, the defendant's father transferred 242,240 hryvnias to support the needs of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

This case is another example of the persistent issues of sham marriages and illegal migration within the country.

Sham marriages are used in Ukraine as a method to circumvent legislation on traveling abroad, particularly in the context of military conflict and economic instability.

Authorities are actively combating these practices, as they undermine the rule of law and can have negative consequences for state security. The sentence handed down in this case underscores the serious approach law enforcement is taking toward such crimes.