In a startling revelation, military-age men allegedly disguised themselves as social workers to accompany children being evacuated from Ukraine to Germany. This deceptive tactic was reportedly used by Ukrainian officials to aid family members in escaping the country after a travel ban for men of military age was implemented in the wake of the conflict with Russia. The scheme came to light when 13 children from a group of 68 orphans evacuated to Germany went missing, and it was discovered that they were unaccompanied by Ukrainian carers.
The Ukrainian human rights ombudsman, Dmitry Lubinets, has accused two senior social services officials of exploiting the evacuation process to sneak their relatives and other adults out of the country. He has called for a thorough investigation into the matter by Ukrainian law enforcement. The alleged cover-up by the officials, including falsified reports and suspicious behavior, has raised concerns about the integrity of the evacuation process.
As Ukraine grapples with troop shortages and a surge in attempts to evade mandatory conscription, this revelation underscores the challenges faced by the country. The incident sheds light on the complexities of the conflict and the lengths to which individuals are willing to go in order to circumvent restrictions.