Three Ukrainian men rescued from freezing Tisza River in Hungary while attempting to flee mobilisation

The Ukrainian border security service has reported a growing trend of men of conscription age attempting to cross the border into Hungary and Romania, often putting their lives at risk. Many of them are using dangerous routes, such as crossing the woods or swimming through the frigid waters of the Tisza River, which forms the boundary between Ukraine and these two countries.

In a recent case, three Ukrainian men, attempting to escape military mobilisation, nearly froze to death while trying to cross into Hungary via the Tisza River, Russian news agency TASS reported. According to the Ukrainian state border service, the men had been relying on smugglers’ promises to help them cross the river, but things went terribly wrong. The men became trapped in the icy waters but were fortunate enough to find safety by clinging to a fallen log. They were later rescued by border security officers.

The icy Tisza River at Szeged. Illustration. Photo: Wikimedia/Beroesz

The border security service has reported numerous incidents where men of recruitment age have risked their lives in similar attempts to flee Ukraine. Many of them pay smugglers thousands of dollars for guidance, though these “guides” often only transport them to the border and point them in the right direction, with little further assistance.

Tragically, the bodies of those who fail in these dangerous crossings are frequently discovered along the Tisza’s shores.

Since the start of the war in February 2022, Ukraine has enforced martial law and universal mobilisation, which has been extended several times. The Ukrainian government has been taking extreme measures to prevent men from avoiding conscription, prompting many young men to risk dangerous journeys in hopes of escaping military service. This desperation intensified after President Zelensky signed a law on 16 April 2024, which increased the pool of eligible men for the draft, adding to the already overwhelming pressure.

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