The 425th Separate Assault Regiment "Skala" has been placed under the operational command of the 1st "Azov" Corps of the National Guard of Ukraine. This was reported by RBC-Ukraine, citing the corps' press service. According to the outlet, during August 2026 several battalions of "Skala," together with the regiment's command staff, were transferred to the area of responsibility of the "Azov" Corps, where the servicemen have already carried out operations to clear the enemy from the defense sectors of the brigades. Thus, the formal merging of the two units has moved into a practical phase of joint combat operations.
Joint Combat Operations and the Command's Assessment
The corps command noted that positive changes have been recorded following the merger of forces. In particular, this refers to an improved level of executive discipline during combat and a significant minimization of losses among the personnel. At the same time, as emphasized in the statement, the process of transferring and consolidating the remaining scattered forces of the regiment on a single section of the front is still ongoing — meaning that the full transfer of "Skala" into the "Azov" area of responsibility was not yet complete at the time the information was published.
Transfer of the Corps' Experience and Values
The "Azov" press service statement highlighted the regiment's combat history: according to the military, its servicemen "have repeatedly demonstrated courage and steadfastness, carrying out extremely difficult tasks while conducting offensive and defensive operations on the most difficult sections of the front." The corps also stated that its culture entails maximum attention to the training of personnel and maintaining a high level of motivation, and pledged to "pass on to the command and fighters of 'Skala' its experience, as well as its values and principles," which, according to the statement, will help the regiment continue to carry out its tasks effectively while preserving the lives and health of its fighters.
Context: Scandal and Restrictions on Reinforcement
The transfer to "Azov" command is taking place against the backdrop of the regiment's difficult situation. It recently became known that the 425th Separate Assault Regiment "Skala" is not being replenished with new recruits — this is due to a decision by the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. In addition, a scandal surrounding the unit erupted at the end of June 2026 following an investigation by the outlet "Babel" into possible torture and deaths of mobilized soldiers; after this, the Main Investigation Bureau opened a criminal case. Thus, the organizational changes coincided with a period when the regiment found itself at the center of public and legal resonance.
Contradictory Data
It is important here to honestly reflect the duality of the picture. On the one hand, the official statements of the "Azov" corps are worded in a positive key: they emphasize "outstanding achievements," the courage of the fighters, improved discipline, and reduced losses following the merger. On the other hand, facts pointing to systemic problems within the unit are simultaneously at play: an open criminal case resulting from the investigation into torture and deaths of mobilized soldiers, as well as a ban on replenishing the regiment with new recruits by decision of the General Staff. In the provided sources, these circumstances do not contradict each other in terms of dates and figures — they describe different aspects of the situation — however, their simultaneous presence creates a contradictory perception: publicly, "Skala" is presented as a unit that is being integrated and "trained," while the actual restrictions and investigative materials speak to a more complex status. Readers should take both perspectives into account when assessing the news about the regiment's transfer to the corps' command.