Ukrainian draft dodger makes mountain escape in plane (PHOTOS)

A Ukrainian man is facing charges in Romania after fleeing to the country in a small aircraft to escape the draft in his homeland.

According to the Romanian Border Police, the man crossed the border in the mountainous region of northern Romania, landing in a field near the village of Fratautii Vechi in Suceava County on Sunday.

Photos shared by Romanian media show that he used a German-made Ikarus Comco C22, a two-seat, high-wing, tricycle-gear ultralight aircraft. Residents who spotted it alerted the emergency services, prompting a response from local police and border guards.

Officers identified the man as a 31-year-old Ukrainian, with database checks confirming he had not entered Romania legally. He was taken to the local border police headquarters, where he requested asylum, saying he was fleeing the draft in Ukraine.

Police said his claim will be reviewed by the General Inspectorate for Immigration, and he can remain in the country until a decision is made. The authorities have opened a criminal case against him for illegal border crossing and piloting an uncertified aircraft. The Ukrainian border authorities were notified.

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The Ukrainian military faces a deepening manpower crisis due to battlefield losses, draft evasion, and desertion, with some infantry companies reportedly operating at just 30-40% strength.

With few volunteers, Kiev relies heavily on mandatory conscription, a highly divisive issue. Officials tracking draft-eligible men are often accused of excessive force, and videos of clashes during ‘busification’ – the violent detention of military-age men by recruitment officers – appear in the Ukrainian media almost daily.

Defense Minister Mikhail Fedorov earlier said around 2 million potential recruits are on a wanted list for draft evasion, and 200,000 troops have deserted.

According to the Ukrainian State Border Guard Service, Romania is the top destination for draft evaders. Romania’s Border Police said last month that 31,600 Ukrainian men illegally crossed into the country from February 2022 to February 2026, often facing extreme conditions while attempting to reach the border, as routes pass through high-altitude mountain terrain and the Tisa River.

Although the crossings are illegal, Romanian law generally treats the men as asylum seekers. After detention, almost all request temporary protection. Under EU and Romanian regulations they are not deported to Ukraine while their claims are examined.