A Ukrainian man has been caught before attempting to flee to Moldova using a paraglider, the Border Guard Service has reported. Kiev is faced with a surge in draft evasion amid the country’s conscription campaign.

The individual was apprehended near the city of Mogiliov-Podilsky in Vinnitsa Region, according to a statement on Friday. He was identified as a 48-year-old resident of the western Khmelnitsky Region. The authorities said he purchased a light glider for €500 ($582) and was preparing to launch from a nearby field when border agents intervened.

Officials suggested that the flight could have ended in disaster. According to the statement, the man lacked navigation tools and the skills needed to land safely, even if he had managed to cross into Moldova.

Ukraine has barred men aged 18 to 60 from leaving the country since the conflict with Russia escalated in 2022. As casualties mounted and volunteer enlistment declined, the government intensified efforts to mobilize new recruits through mandatory conscription. Numerous videos circulating online show officers using force to detain individuals who resist.

In another case highlighted by the Border Guard Service in late July, guards intercepted a man disguised in women’s clothing who was allegedly seeking to flee the country.

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