In Mykolaiv, a man was convicted for fraudulently obtaining guardianship of a child to delay mobilization

The Central District Court of Mykolaiv found a man guilty but released him from serving his sentence after he registered guardianship of a child to obtain a postponement from conscription during mobilization.

This was reported by PN with reference to the relevant court verdict.

According to the case materials, the man 19 December 2024 received a decision of the executive committee of the Novoodeska City Council appointing him guardian of a minor child. However, as it turned out, the executive committee had not actually adopted such a decision. In addition, back in September 2024 another person had officially been appointed guardian of that child and continued to actually exercise guardianship.

Despite this, on 8 February 2025 the man applied to the Territorial Recruitment and Social Support Center for a postponement from mobilization. In the document he stated that he was the child’s guardian and attached copies of the corresponding executive committee decision and the guardian’s certificate.

On the basis of the submitted documents, on 12 February the TRSC commission granted him a postponement from conscription until 9 May 2025.

Later, on 1 May, the man again applied to the TRSC for a postponement, using the same documents. On 7 May the commission again decided to grant him a postponement from mobilization.

On 23 October 2026 an agreement on admission of guilt was concluded between the defendant and the prosecutor of the Mykolaiv District Prosecutor’s Office.

“According to the agreement, the defendant fully admitted his guilt in the stated acts, sincerely repented, and undertakes to unconditionally admit the charges to the extent of the suspicion during the court hearing (proceedings),” the document reads.

When determining the punishment, the court took into account the man’s sincere remorse, the absence of prior convictions, and the fact that at the time of the case review he was declared unfit for military service. In addition, the defendant voluntarily transferred 50 thousand hryvnias to support the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

As a result, the court approved the plea agreement, found the man guilty under Art. 336 and part 4 of Art. 358 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, and sentenced him for the aggregate of criminal offenses to three years of imprisonment. At the same time, the man was released from serving the sentence with a two-year probationary period.

“On the basis of Art. 75 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, release the defendant from serving the sentence with probation if he does not commit a new crime within 2 /two/ years from the date of pronouncement of the verdict and fulfills the duties imposed on him by the court,” the court states.