Scheme with fake medical certificates for conscripts exposed in five Odesa hospitals

In Odesa, a court seized property in a case of a large-scale scheme to issue fake medical documents to avoid mobilization. According to the investigation, doctors from both private and municipal medical institutions could have been involved.

This is evidenced by the ruling of the Peresypskyi District Court of Odesa.

According to the investigation, during 2022-2026, doctors from private and municipal medical institutions could have conspired to help citizens avoid mobilization. For this purpose, they issued forged medical certificates, discharges and referrals to medical and social expert commissions, which later became the basis for obtaining a disability group.

Among the institutions whose employees came to the attention of investigators are: KIND LLC, Odesa Regional Clinical Hospital, Primary Health Care Center No. 3, City Clinical Hospital No. 5, and City Clinical Hospital No. 10.

In particular, it concerns the processing of documents regarding fictitious diseases and treatment. At the same time, the official responses of the hospitals indicate that some "patients" did not actually seek medical care and were not hospitalized.

One of the witnesses reported that he had applied to the MSEC with forged documents already prepared and received the third group of disability. This allowed him to avoid conscription and cross the state border freely.

As part of the investigation, law enforcement officers searched the office of KIND LLC in Odesa. During the investigation, a significant amount of evidence was seized, including medical records for various individuals, certificate forms, doctors' seals, stamps, handwritten notes, as well as computer equipment and mobile phones. Some of the seized materials, according to the investigation, could have been used to produce false documents.

The investigation pays special attention to handwriting analysis, which requires signature samples of medical professionals. However, as noted, some of the defendants refuse to provide them.

The court concluded that the seized property may contain traces of the crime or other important evidence, so its arrest is necessary to ensure further investigation. In particular, this will prevent the destruction or concealment of the evidence base.

The court granted the motion of the prosecutor of the Odesa Regional Prosecutor's Office and seized the property, including documents, seals and electronic media. The investigation is ongoing, and law enforcement officers are checking the possible involvement of other persons in the organization of the scheme.

In April, investigators sent to court a case against a psychiatrist of a medical institution in Odesa. The doctor demanded USD 500 from patients for inpatient treatment.

Анна Бальчінос