A new scandal is unfolding within the Ukrainian army concerning service conditions and the treatment of personnel. The State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) of Ukraine has initiated criminal proceedings against the 425th Separate Assault Regiment 'Skala'. The trigger for the investigation was media reports alleging possible torture, abuse, and deaths of mobilized servicemen.

Investigation into abuse of power

Investigators entered information into the Unified Register of Pre-trial Investigations following the publication of an article by the media outlet 'Babel'. The publication alleged that certain commanders of the regiment allowed the use of violence and abused their official positions.

The case has been registered under Part 5 of Article 426-1 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. This article stipulates liability for the abuse of authority or official powers by a military official during martial law if it resulted in serious consequences. Currently, investigators are conducting a complex of procedural actions to gather evidence.

Command response: denials and admissions

The command of the 'Skala' Regiment has officially responded to the accusations. In a statement, the unit expressed condolences to the families of the deceased and acknowledged that the raised issues require a thorough investigation. However, the leadership disagreed with the journalists' generalizing conclusions.

The regiment's official position is based on the following facts:

  • Of the 26 deaths mentioned in the investigation, 18 occurred in hospitals or on the way to medical facilities, not directly within the regiment.
  • According to the command, these deaths are linked to illnesses or the general poor health of the mobilized soldiers.
  • The regiment does not conduct independent mobilization: reinforcements arrive exclusively from Territorial Recruitment and Resource Centers (TCRC) with positive conclusions from the military-medical commission.

The regiment also noted that most claims in the material are based on statements from individuals who refused service, deserted, or violated discipline. The command emphasizes that such testimonies require particularly careful verification and cannot be considered irrefutable evidence without confirmation by facts and documents.

Detentions and new versions already underway

The regiment confirmed that Junior Sergeant Anatoliy Kucher has already been detained by law enforcement officers and is awaiting trial.

Separately, investigative actions continue in the so-called 'pine tree case'. According to the investigation, a serviceman attempting suicide climbed a pine tree, fell, was hospitalized, and suffered injuries that led to his death.

Context: problems in other units

The situation surrounding the 'Skala' Regiment is not isolated. Similar scandals recently erupted around other units. For instance, relatives of soldiers from the 14th Separate Mechanized Brigade complained on social media about nine months without rotation and irregular food supply at the positions.

Previously, during the scandal regarding the lack of food and water in the same brigade, the commander of the 14th SMB, Lieutenant Colonel Anatoliy Lysetsky, was removed from his position. The brigade was taken over by Colonel Taras Maksymov, and the commander of the 10th Army Corps was transferred with a demotion.