Fictitious teachers for $10,000: Kyiv region exposes scheme with deferrals from mobilization

In the Kyiv region, law enforcement officers have uncovered a large-scale scheme in which conscripted men were fictitiously employed as teachers in private educational institutions in order to obtain a deferment from mobilization. According to the investigation, the men paid thousands of dollars for such a “service.”

25 people have already been reported suspected in the case, the National Police reported.

$10,000 for a teaching position and another $700 per month

According to the investigation, conscripts were registered for teaching positions only on paper. In fact, they did not work in educational institutions, did not conduct lessons, and did not perform the duties of teachers.

Law enforcement officers claim that the man had to pay about $10,000 for fictitious employment, and then about $700 per month.

The issued documents allowed the use of the status of a teaching employee to obtain a deferral from the draft during mobilization.

50 students and over 165 teachers

The investigation drew particular attention to the ratio of the number of students and employees in educational institutions.

According to the prosecutor’s office, the scheme could operate in four private lyceums. In total, about 50 children studied there, but officially more than 165 teachers were on staff.

About 150 of them were men of draft age.

According to law enforcement officers, some of these “teachers” not only did not conduct classes, but did not appear at educational institutions at all.

So far, investigators have documented at least 20 cases of alleged fictitious employment.

Over 50 searches in Kyiv and the region

As part of the investigation, law enforcement officers conducted 53 searches in Kyiv and the Kyiv region.

During the investigation, documentation, computer equipment, seals, draft notes and cash were seized.

According to law enforcement, $52,850 and €10,000 were found at one of the addresses.

Who was suspected

Five representatives of private educational institutions were detained. They were informed of suspicion of obstructing the lawful activities of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

More than 20 more conscripts, who, according to the investigation, were fictitiously registered as teachers, were suspected of evading military service during mobilization.

Thus, in total, 25 people have already been informed of suspicion within the framework of the investigation.

The investigation is ongoing. Law enforcement officers are identifying other possible participants in the scheme, as well as conscripts who could have used fictitious employment to obtain a deferment.

At the same time, according to the Constitution of Ukraine, a person is presumed innocent of committing a crime until his or her guilt is proven in accordance with the law and established by a court verdict of guilty.