Three men sentenced in Zakarpattia for smuggling men across border
Three residents of Zakarpattia have been found guilty of illegally transporting men across Ukraine's border, receiving sentences of 7 and 5 years in prison.
A court in Zakarpattia has sentenced three local residents for illegally smuggling men across Ukraine's state border. According to the regional prosecutor's office, the accused were convicted of organizing the illegal border crossing as part of a group.
Criminal scheme
The defendants found clients online, luring them with a low price of just $400 per person for transport to the European Union. They were detained in August 2025 while escorting five men to the border. The court established that the defendants met the men in Zakarpattia, accompanied them to the border zone, and coordinated the route.
Evidence and sentencing
During the trial, the men who attempted to cross the border illegally testified. They stated that they had stayed in hotels in Khust for several days beforehand. At night, they were transported by car, and at one stage, they were ferried across a river in an inflatable boat. The guides warned them about possible drones and ordered them to hide in bushes. During this crossing, law enforcement apprehended all participants.
The accused did not admit guilt, claiming they merely helped a friend hide and were unaware of the intention to cross the border illegally. However, the court found them guilty based on the evidence presented. Two men were sentenced to 7 years in prison with confiscation of property. The third received a sentence of 5 years and 3 months, but the prosecution plans to appeal, seeking a harsher penalty.
