{"id":39503,"date":"2023-11-17T09:49:51","date_gmt":"2023-11-17T09:49:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/miamiheatnation.com\/?p=39503"},"modified":"2023-11-17T09:49:51","modified_gmt":"2023-11-17T09:49:51","slug":"desperate-ukrainians-swim-dangerous-rivers-to-flee-country-and-escape-draft","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/miamiheatnation.com\/world-news\/desperate-ukrainians-swim-dangerous-rivers-to-flee-country-and-escape-draft\/","title":{"rendered":"Desperate Ukrainians ‘swim dangerous rivers’ to flee country and escape draft"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Desperate Ukrainian men are fleeing their country through any means necessary to escape being drafted into the war with Russia.<\/p>\n

According to the BBC, some of the men have even gone as far as to swim across dangerous rivers to flee the country, while others have walked out of their homes under the cover of darkness.<\/p>\n

Since the war started, nearly 20,000 men have successfully fled Ukraine, and according to Kyiv authorities, another 21,113 men have tried to flee but were caught.<\/p>\n

Following Russia’s invasion in February 2022, most men between the ages of 18 and 60 were banned from leaving the country – however the BBC reports that thousands have escaped.<\/p>\n

One man named by the BBC as Yevgeny said: “What am I supposed to do?<\/p>\n

READ MORE: <\/strong> Dramatic moment Ukraine forces launch raid on Russian trenches<\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

“Not everyone is a warrior\u2026 you don’t need to keep the whole country locked up. You can’t lump everyone together like they did in the Soviet Union.”<\/p>\n

Yevgeny, who had made it to a Moldovan immigration centre, explained he had walked across the border to escape. He has since applied for asylum – something relatively simple for escapees of war – and is trying to find a job.<\/p>\n

Data from neighbouring countries including Romania, Moldova, Poland, Hungary and Slovakia shows that 19,740 men illegally crossed over between February last year and August 31, 2023.<\/p>\n

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Of the 21,113 who were caught trying to escape, 14,313 either tried to walk or swim over the border, and the rest relied on fake paperwork, claiming they had exemptions including illnesses.<\/p>\n

Dramatic videos of escapes include one of a man swimming across the Dniesta River towards Moldova, another shows less successful attempts.<\/p>\n

One video shows the bodies of men who drowned trying to cross the Tisa River between Ukraine and Romania being pulled ashore.<\/p>\n