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SSU and National Police expose entire administration of university in Zaporizhzhia on selling 3 000 fake postgraduate student IDs

Security Service of Ukraine

13:00, 17 June 2025

The Security Service and the National Police have dismantled a large-scale mobilization evasion scheme in Zaporizhzhia. As a result of an operation in the frontline city, the law enforcement uncovered a rector of a private university who took bribes to enroll draft evaders in the university's postgraduate program.

In addition to the main suspect, eight of his subordinates, who were part of the criminal organization, have been identified, including his deputies and the management of the educational institution's institutes.

According to the investigation, the group made over UAH 17 million (USD 407 000) on draft dodgers between the end of 2023 and mid-2024.

As the investigators established, the rector's office enrolled men of conscription age in full-time programs without any entrance exams or subsequent attendance.

This scheme was used by 2 966 men, who used fake education to obtain a deferral from conscription.

The cost of such 'registration' was up to USD 5 000 in cash per person. After submitting the documents, the 'postgraduates' additionally paid the university the established amount for two semesters, almost UAH 20,000.

Then, the organizers of the scheme withdrew the funds from the university's account and divided them among themselves.

Based on the evidence, the rector and eight of his subordinates have been notified of suspicion under four Articles of the CCU:

• 255.1, 255.2 (creation of a criminal organization, managing such an organization and participating in a criminal organization);
• 368-3.4 (bribery of an official of a private legal entity, regardless of its organizational and legal form);
• 362.3 (unauthorized actions with information processed in electronic computers, automated systems, computer networks or stored on such information carriers, committed by a person who has access to it);
• 336 (evasion of conscription to military service during mobilization, for a special period, or to military service by persons from the reserve during a special period).

The decisions on measures of restraint are pending. The suspects face up to 12 years in prison with confiscation of property.

The operation was carried out under the procedural supervision of Zaporizhzhia Specialized Defense Prosecutor's Office.