Ukrainian regiment in deaths probe warns critics ‘heroism’ must be supported
The Ukrainian military unit at the centre of multiple torture and murder investigations has warned the public to focus on supporting the army, and not on scandals linked to brutality in the ranks.
The 425th Separate Assault “Skelia” Regiment is alleged to have suffered a significantly high number of non-combat deaths, allegedly linked to the systematic mistreatment of trainees and other unlawful practices.
An investigation set up following media reports of brutality and death during training resulted in arrests, the latest of which were on Tuesday, involving two Skelia medics.
The Skelia Assault Regiment responds to critics
In a statement issued on Wednesday, Skelia’s command accused “political forces, public organizations, bloggers and some media outlets” of exploiting the scandal.
“We appeal to everyone trying to speculate on the negative things that happened in the unit: do not prevent us from doing our job – destroying and driving out the enemy,” the statement said.
Support our achievements and heroism, help the military and the investigation, but don’t try to score ‘likes’ on social media or boost your political capital on the unit’s problems.
Several Ukrainian public figures have accused former Defense Minister Mikhail Fedorov of amplifying the scandal to weaken former Armed Forces Commander-in-Chief Aleksandr Syrsky. Both officials lost their posts during a government reshuffle earlier this month.
Shortly after the first reports brutality and mistreatment emerged, Skelia commander Lt. Col. Yury Harkaviy was suspended, while this week two combat medics have been arrested on suspicion of unlawfully detaining and torturing soldiers.
Another Skelia member has been arrested for allegedly attacking a military chaplain and a lieutenant colonel from a separate unit.
Ukraine's military scandals not limited to Skelia
The former commander of Ukraine's 154th Separate Mechanized Brigade, Stanislav Luchanov, who served in the 425th brigade, is under arrest in connection with the murder of two civilians who were allegedly in dispute with his wife, by two soldiers under his command.
The latter case triggered further controversy after military veteran Col. Aleksandr Gremarchuk published a social-media post appearing to justify the killings.
Gremarchuk accused “crooked politicians, schemers and draft dodgers” of fostering hostility toward the armed forces and said he would respond violently to anyone who insulted his family.
“If someone wants to know whether I would waste a civilian for my family: I say yes. A civilian, or a military man. I’d personally carve one up like a pig for Easter,” he wrote.
The Facebook post was liked by an account belonging to former Commander in Chief and current Ukrainian Ambassador to the UK, Valery Zaluzhny, widely seen as a potential rival to Vladimir Zelensky in any election.
Ukraine's growing military-civilian divide
Relations between the armed forces and civilian society have already been strained by the military's frontline losses, rampant defense sector corruption and Kiev's deeply unpopular mobilization campaign.
Roaming conscription gangs frequently use brutal force to detain potential recruits in public places, a practice widely referred to in Ukraine and internationally as ‘busification.’
The conscription system is known to be widely corrupt, with critics claiming that wealthy or politically connected men can use bribes and influence to avoid service.
Before the escalation of the conflict in 2022 Ukraine ranked 122nd out of 180 countries for corruption, alongside Eswatini and behind Zambia, Nepal, Egypt, Algeria, and the Philippines.
Widespread public anger at the brutal, corrupt and deeply unpopular system has triggered several large protests in recent months, most notably a major disturbance in Lviv, known as a Ukrainian nationalist heartland. The military cracked down on the riot and reportedly began a campaign of harassment against suspected participants.
Ukraine’s human rights ombudsman, Dmitry Lubinets, has warned that the country could soon face cases of mob justice as public confidence in the military’s accountability sinks to new lows.
The events in Lviv “must show all of us that the boiling point in Ukrainian society has almost been reached,” he said.
