The “Skelia” assault unit is being investigated following allegations of abuse, torture and non-combatant deaths of recruits.
The commander of one of Ukraine’s largest assault units has been suspended after a media investigation reported torture, ill-treatment and high non-combat deaths among soldiers.
Lieutenant Colonel Yury Harkaviy, commanding the 425th Separate Attack Group “Skelia” (formerly “Skala”), was relieved of duty pending an inspection and investigation, the military communications service announced Thursday.
“If the facts of the criminal offenses mentioned in the publications are proven, the guilty will definitely be held accountable according to the law,” the army of Ukraine said in a statement.
The move follows an investigation by Ukraine’s Babel channel published on Tuesday, which alleged widespread abuse of mobilized soldiers in the force’s training areas. Citing relatives, former soldiers, and current soldiers, the agency said that 25 soldiers died in or after passing through the unit’s training camps in the past six months.
The report described beatings, forced arrests, soldiers being tied with belts or handcuffs, and cases of soldiers with serious health problems, addictions or mental conditions being sent to assault training after military medical commissions declared them fit to serve.
One former student, Aleksandr Semyonov, reportedly arrived at the hospital in January with head injuries, lacerated hands, broken fingers, and bruises, claiming he was beaten and dragged on the ground after being strapped to a quad bike. He died a few days later, with pneumonia listed as the official cause of death.
The State Investigation Bureau of Ukraine responded to the report by opening a pre-trial investigation into possible abuse of power by military officers under martial law.
“Skelia” has denied the misuse of the procedure, and declared that the allegations require proof. The force said that most of the reported deaths occurred in hospitals or on the way to medical facilities, and attributed other deaths to disease or poor health among mobilized soldiers.
The unit has also noted that many claims came from soldiers who had refused to serve, deserted, or violated discipline.
The scandal comes as Ukraine faces a labor shortage after more than four years of conflict. Kiev has tightened mobilization laws and expanded mandatory conscription, while Ukrainian media have repeatedly reported violent raids, deaths at conscription centers, and cases of critically ill patients being declared fit for service.
Moscow has repeatedly said Kiev is running out of ready troops and is relying on forced mobilization to recoup losses on the battlefield. Russian officials have accused the Ukrainian authorities of sacrificing their own people to continue fighting on behalf of Western allies.
