Image Credit: Serhii Hudak/ Ukrinform/Future Publishing via Getty Images 
An employee of the Ukrainian State Border Guard Service abandoned his post and fled towards Hungary, leaving his service weapon behind, according to Transcarpathian journalist Vitaly Hlahola’s Telegram channel.
According to his information, 29-year-old Sergeant Vitalij Huga, from Unghvar, left his post without permission near the Transcarpathian border marker 336. The man left his service weapons, an AK-74 assault rifle and a Fort-12R pistol, along with a bulletproof vest, and other equipment right at his position in the forest.
Nearby, in the checkpoint lane, traces were found leading towards Hungary, with all signs pointing to the sergeant having illegally crossed the border, according to Hungarian news outlet Magyar Nemzet.
Thousands have crossed into Hungary over the years, with many risking their lives to do so. Oftentimes, workers in the area use the chance to quickly escape across the border, rather than be used as fodder for the war in the east of the country.
In one instance, a welder working on the bridge near the Transcarpathian border cut a hole in the bridge and crawled through the metal support structure to Hungary on the other side, in what was described as a “window to Europe.“
The border guard’s escape comes at nearly the same time that a new regulation was launched that states all men who have reached the age of 17 must be registered for military service by July 31. According to the Chernihiv Regional Conscription and Social Support Center, after registration, the data is entered into the Unified State Register of Conscripts, Conscripts and Reservists.
The center emphasized that registration is not the same as being drafted into military service. The question is how many people will take this reassuring statement seriously. Ukraine is losing its citizens every day in the senseless war, and there is pressure to recruit younger and younger Ukrainians.
Anyone who does not register by the specified deadline must appear in person at the district or city recruitment center.
Ukrainian men aged 16 to 60 who are abroad must also register.
Since the beginning of 2025, almost 10,00 cases have been initiated in Ukraine for non-payment of fines imposed for violating military registration rules. This is close to the number of cases in the entire year of 2023.
