An air mattress was discovered by Ukrainian border guards when a 39-year-old man attempted to cross the Dniester River from Ukraine to Moldova. The man was fully clothed, with a backpack and shoes, lying face down on the mattress and using his hands to row across the river.
Ukrainian forces used a drone to observe his illegal border crossing and sent a boat to intercept him. It is reported that the man had contacted someone on a messaging app who had arranged for him to cross the border for $4,200. The motive behind the man’s attempt to cross the border remains unknown, but many Ukrainian men are believed to be trying to leave the country in order to avoid military conscription.
Since lowering the military enlistment age, there has been an increase in people attempting to cross the border. This has led to heightened surveillance from border security. In response, Ukraine has stopped issuing passports to men of military age who are abroad. An estimated 650,000 Ukrainian men between the ages of 18-60 have left the country since conflict began.
This incident highlights the challenges and risks faced by individuals trying to navigate border crossings during tumultuous times.
