Former Cop Sold Fake Disability Status to Draft Dodgers for $10,000: Inside the Scheme.

Ex-Officer Arrested in Kharkiv

According to Novyny.live: Law enforcement agents detained a former police officer from Lozova on May 24, 2026, in Kharkiv. He was offering to arrange fraudulent disability certifications that would allow men to receive a deferment from military mobilization—for a price of $10,000. The ex-cop’s criminal activities have sparked public concern, as such actions undermine the country’s defense capabilities.

How the Scam Worked and Its Fallout

The proposed scheme involved issuing fake disability documents, enabling men to dodge the draft. During a search of the suspect, authorities seized $6,800 in cash and a forged identification card for the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU). This suggests the detainee was trying to project an image of high-level law enforcement connections to legitimize his operations.

The former law enforcement officer has now been officially notified of suspicion under Part 3 of Article 369-2 of Ukraine’s Criminal Code, which carries a prison sentence of three to eight years. Meanwhile, other illegal schemes have emerged in Kharkiv. For instance, a city council deputy is suspected of organizing the unlawful smuggling of men across the border for $17,000, involving forged documents and illegal border crossings.

In a separate case, the head of a non-governmental organization was convicted for facilitating illegal border crossings. The court also sentenced a man found guilty of obstructing the activities of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. These incidents point to systemic issues surrounding draft evasion and illicit networks that threaten national security. Authorities are ramping up efforts to identify and dismantle such criminal operations across the region.

The arrest of the former police officer in Kharkiv highlights the serious challenges Ukraine faces in maintaining its defense readiness.

Systemic problems like draft dodging and the organization of illegal schemes could significantly undermine state security, especially during wartime. Law enforcement agencies are intensifying their work to detect and eliminate these criminal networks, aiming to strengthen the country’s defensive posture and prevent abuses in this sensitive area.