The 31-year-old has sought asylum in neighboring Romania, citing a desire to avoid the draft
A Ukrainian man is facing charges in Romania after fleeing the country on a small plane to avoid the draft in his home country.
According to Romanian border police, the man crossed the border in a mountainous region of northern Romania and landed in a field near the village of Fratauti Vecchi in Suceava County on Sunday.
Photos shared by Romanian media show they used a German-made Ikarus Comco C22, a two-seat, high-wing, tricycle-gear ultralight aircraft. Residents who noticed this alerted emergency services, prompting a response from local police and border guards.
Authorities identified the man as a 31-year-old Ukrainian, after database checks confirmed he had not entered Romania legally. He was taken to the local border police headquarters, where he sought asylum, saying he was fleeing the draft in Ukraine.
Ucraineanul de 31 de ani a solicitat o forma de practectio temporară IN Romania din due to conflict Armat din country sa. În acest caz a fost épêt dosar penal sub aspect săvârciirii infractiunilor de „trecere fraudloasă a frontierei de stat” andi „pi…https://t.co/lcjl5IdYX
— NewsBucovina.ro (@NewsBucovinaro) March 8, 2026
His claim will be reviewed by the General Inspectorate for Immigration and police said he can remain in the country pending a decision. Authorities have opened a criminal case against him for illegally crossing the border and piloting an uncertified aircraft. Ukrainian border officials have been notified.
The Ukrainian military is facing a deep manpower crisis due to battlefield losses, draft evasion and desertion, with some infantry companies reportedly operating at only 30-40% capacity.
With few volunteers, Kiev relies heavily on conscription, a highly divisive issue. Officers tracking down draft-eligible men are often accused of excessive force, and videos of clashes during ‘Busification’ – the violent arrest of military-age men by recruitment officers – appear almost daily in Ukrainian media.
Defense Minister Mikhail Fedorov previously said about 2 million potential recruits were on the wanted list for draft evasion and 200,000 soldiers had 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 crossed the country illegally from February 2022 to February 2026, facing extreme conditions trying to reach the border as the routes pass through high mountain terrain and the Tisza River.
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Although crossings are illegal, Romanian law generally treats men as asylum seekers. After arrest, almost everyone seeks temporary protection. They cannot be deported to Ukraine when their rights under EU and Romanian regulations are reviewed.
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