Fake disability scheme to dodge draft exposed in Lviv region

The State Bureau of Investigation, together with the Security Service of Ukraine and the Strategic Investigations Department of the National Police, exposed a current and two former Lviv tax officers who organized a scheme to evade mobilization. For a bribe of 3-10 thousand dollars, they helped to issue fake disability certificates. According to ZAXID.NET journalists, the organizers of the scheme were the deputy head of the Yavoriv DPI of the Main Directorate of the State Tax Service in Lviv region Anatoliy Sysyuk, the former head of the department of the Main Directorate of the State Tax Service in Lviv region Serhiy Mykhalchuk, and a former tax employee Taras Vyzdryk.

As reported by the State Bureau of Investigation and the Strategic Investigations Department of the National Police, the criminal scheme was organized by the former head of one of the district state tax inspectorates of the Main Directorate of the State Tax Service in Lviv region, who currently holds the position of deputy head of another district tax inspectorate. He has now involved two former employees of the Lviv region's tax office in the scheme.

According to the investigation, the defendants acted in collusion with officials of the regional and several district TCPs, doctors of inter-district MSECs, as well as doctors of Lviv hospitals and polyclinics.

One of the participants was looking for clients who were given fictitious diagnoses through doctors. The documents were passed on to another accomplice, who resolved the issue at the MSEC, and then issued a deferral from mobilization through the TCP. The organizers also involved other intermediaries in the scheme. The dealers estimated the cost of their services at between 3 and 10 thousand US dollars, depending on the complexity of the task.

According to law enforcement, since 2023, the perpetrators have helped at least 19 men obtain disability certificates. Pre-trial investigation authorities are taking measures to cancel these illegally issued documents.

One of the suspects also offered to provide clients with transportation across the state border for a separate fee of $3,500. He provided the men with instructions and other necessary information, and helped them avoid possible obstacles to leaving Ukraine.

All three defendants were charged with extortion and receiving unlawful benefits (Part 5 of Article 27, Part 3 of Article 368 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine), and one additional defendant was charged with illegal smuggling of persons across the state border (Part 3 of Article 332 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine). The sanctions of the articles provide for imprisonment for a term of up to 10 years.

The court chose preventive measures for the suspects - detention with the possibility of bail. At the request of the State Bureau of Investigation, the tax official was suspended from his duties.

Law enforcement officers are not disclosing any more details of the case. According to ZAXID.NET, suspicions were raised against the current deputy head of the Yavoriv State Tax Inspectorate of the Main Directorate of the State Tax Service in Lviv region, Anatoliy Sysyuk (at the time of the crime, he held the position of head of another State Tax Inspectorate), the former head of the department of the International Activity Control Department of the Transfer Pricing Department of the Main Directorate of the State Tax Service in Lviv region, Serhiy Mykhalchuk (dismissed at the beginning of this year), and the former senior inspector for special assignments of the Operational Response Department of the Main Directorate of the State Tax Service in Lviv region, Taras Vyzdryk (dismissed in 2022).

We also previously reported that in Chernivtsi region, the head of the district TCP and his subordinate were detained, who promised to provide service in the rear to a Bukovina resident for $6,000 . The officials were dismissed from their positions.

In addition, SBI officers reported suspicions to the deputy commander of one of the military units deployed in Vinnytsia Oblast. The investigation established that in 2022, the official  unjustifiably issued combat payments to servicemen  who were actually in the rear.