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How should I approach escaping/draft dodging Ukraine? (lemmygrad.ml)

submitted 1 week ago by Envylike@lemmygrad.ml to c/asklemmygrad@lemmygrad.ml

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Long story short - I have slightly more than a year left before I'm legally required to serve in the Ukrainian military, not that it matters that much since they grab people off the streets anyway, but it will be an even bigger problem since I will officially have no "excuse" not to serve and will have to hide or escape before then, and it doesn't look like the war will end for the next god knows how many years. Has anyone here draft-dodged or escaped their country in a similar manner before? If so, any advice on how to do so?

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[–] rainpizza@lemmygrad.ml 23 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) (4 children)

The thing about doing so illegally is that you have to know someone, and have money to do so. I fit neither of those qualifications.

Uff, without these two, things are even more complicated and options are tremendously scarce. However, let's try to brainstorm some options and see if people add others:

Usually smugglers are retired military officers or police men(that's how it usually goes in Mexico). If things are similar in Ukraine, you could find some with certain hashtags or groups in Facebook or your commonly used social media. However, BE ADVISED, this is a dangerous path and it is even more dangerous for women and LGBT comrades. You can check the rates and save up before you reach the age legally require to be forced into conscription. If you do follow this, you need to rush to save money to be able to do this.
How about living in hiding in another place far from your designated residence?
Have you checked if any embassy have humanitarian programs that could help you leave?

[–] Envylike@lemmygrad.ml 24 points 1 week ago (3 children)

Thank you for the insight, I am saving money atm (though an english teacher's salary isn't exactly the best for doing so I am working on a fansly account to hopefully get at least some pennies in) for that exact reason, and I have some support from overseas but it's not too reliable. I'll try looking for smuggling options, tho the govt here cracks down on that kinda stuff pretty heavily. I actually haven't checked the embassy bit, thank you for suggesting that - maybe I'll find some luck there. As for living somewhere away - I'm living not that far from my old home but there is no contractual documentation that would let the govt know that I live here, and my job kinda makes me live a secluded work-from-home life, which is a small extra layer of safety.

[–] rainpizza@lemmygrad.ml 15 points 1 week ago (2 children)

Ok, knowing that you have a source of income and help from abroad puts you in a better position! Ok, let's try to asses more options:

As for the smugglers, it is as you said. However, the strength of border patrols won't be the same and it will deteriorate. This option will involve actively looking for a smuggler and saving up money. According to a Russian source, that opportunity might come soon:

But today we are not talking about disrupting mobilization measures on Ukrainian territory as such, but about providing the Ukrainian population with the opportunity to escape from their concentration camp across the very long northern border with Belarus, and, as a result, about the possibility of creating a problem for Ukraine stretching 1,084 kilometers.

A safe way here will be to patiently wait for this opportunity and constantly check for updates on this regard. As for the smugglers, there is just too much money on this so, even if the gov't cracks it, it will won't go away. I am confident that you will find one when the time is right.

The other option which is surviving while the war ends(it could take years as you said):

Not sure how safe is this one but check for communities or NGOs that offer social services. In other words, it will be necessary to find a way to organize through some local grassroot that help people in need. Usually, people in this orgs are heavily connected and might give you ideas on plenty of stuff.
Save as much money and wait until the collapse of the gov't. This option will require to increase the level of your personal security as much as possible and/or join local orgs. Example of this are what my countrymen in the US do which is their local networks designed to inform the community of ICE raids.

(This is the worst case scenario and only if you find there are no other options left) Organize to fight back the TCC or join a sabotage org

An example of this is in Cherkasy where sadly a communist cell were arrested. However, I am pretty sure that there are numerous cells like this and to find them you will have to join plenty of local grassroot orgs that help the people in need. If you are lucky, you might meet a good comrade out there with better advices.

[–] Envylike@lemmygrad.ml 19 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Oooooh I didn't know about the Belarus effort. I'll need to set up a vpn to access .ru domains again. While I live in the south (Odesa to be exact) I think it would be worth it to travel north to try this way should it be fruitful, though I gotta learn how to properly look for smugglers. By the way, regarding locals warning of ICE - we have telegram groups warning people of kidnapper busses so the ghouls have to hide and cover their buses to blend in all the time. Different countries, same concept effectively. Thank you, this has been most helpful, actually.

[–] rainpizza@lemmygrad.ml 13 points 1 week ago

Stay safe and wish you the best comrade! Hopefully, a more viable solution will appear!