**Ukraine Cracks Down on Illegal Border Crossings**
The Ukrainian National Police has broken up nearly 50 schemes to help draft-age men leave the country illegally. The police made these announcements after a large-scale operation on January 10.
**Raids Across Ukraine**
On the same day, there were 600 simultaneous raids across the country aimed at preventing fighting-age men from fleeing abroad. Men aged 18-60 are not allowed to leave Ukraine under martial law, which was introduced when Russia started its full-scale war in 2022.
**Suspects Charged**
Sixty suspects have been charged with various crimes, including crossing the border outside of checkpoints, forging health documents, and inputting falsified entries into an electronic information system. The defendants include heads of state institutions, hospital managers, military enlistment officers, medical commission officials, and ordinary civilians.
**Penalties for Suspects**
The suspects face up to nine years in prison, property confiscation, and a ban on holding certain official positions. This is the first stage of the operation, and efforts are underway to identify other suspects.
**Impact on Ukraine’s Manpower Shortages**
Illegal border crossing schemes have worsened the manpower shortages facing the Ukrainian Armed Forces. These shortages make it difficult for them to hold back the Russian advance in Donetsk Oblast.
Read More @ kyivindependent.com