Ukrainian soldiers caught smuggling migrants into Slovakia face up to nine years in prison

Authorities uncovered that a soldier used personal contacts to find people willing to cross the border illegally, while a partner transported them to a pre-selected spot near the frontier. They timed the crossing to avoid border guards, exploiting a window when patrols were absent. The pair were detained while receiving payment, and both now face up to nine years imprisonment, a three-year ban on certain duties, and asset seizure. Officials are also probing possible involvement of other soldiers tasked with border security.