How many Ukrainians died illegally fleeing abroad — State Border Guard Service data

Attempts to illegally cross the border are taking place daily at the checkpoints. More than 40 people have already died trying to escape from Ukraine, mostly in rivers and in the mountains.

This was announced by a spokesman for the State Border Guard Service during a briefing, Ukrinform reports. 

How many Ukrainians died fleeing abroad

"More than 40 people have already lost their lives trying to cross the border illegally. Most of these cases occurred on the rivers. In fact, people drowned without assessing their strength. Of course, there are also cases in the mountains," Demchenko said.

He added that there were cases when border guards repeatedly saved the lives of people who were wandering in the mountains and were on the verge of exhaustion. 

According to the State Border Guard Service (SBGS) spokesman, there are attempts to cross the border illegally every day at the checkpoints. People forge documents and falsify the conditions of departure. 

However, most attempts to flee Ukraine occurs outside official checkpoints, with the border areas with Romania and Moldova being among the most active. Fewer cases are recorded at the borders with Hungary, Slovakia and Poland.

"Since August, there has been a downward trend in attempts to cross the border illegally. It has already become colder and snow has fallen in the mountains. It is raining, so the number of attempts to cross the border illegally is decreasing due to difficult weather conditions," Demchenko explained. 

Recently, Border Patrol rescued a man who was lost in the mountains and nearly froze to death. He was trying to escape illegally by buying a "route" from a smuggler.

We also wrote about a man of military age who tried to enter Poland illegally, but got lost and ended up near Belarus. 

And in the mountains of Zakarpattia, two men who were trying to get to Romania illegally almost froze to death.