An investigation has surfaced allegations that the Ukrainian 425th Separate Assault Regiment, known as 'Skelya,' has subjected its own soldiers to torture and fatal beatings. At least 25 soldiers have reportedly died at the regiment's training center in the past six months, with many bodies showing signs of abuse and delayed medical care, according to a report by Ukrainian media outlet Babel.
The investigation claims that high-ranking members of the unit refer to new recruits as 'disposables' and that soldiers are sometimes forced to fight each other for entertainment. The unit has also allegedly recruited individuals with substance abuse issues, HIV, tuberculosis, and hepatitis C, often denying them necessary medication.
Witness accounts suggest that deaths, even those with apparent signs of violence, are typically recorded as due to 'pneumonia' or 'heart problems.'
One soldier, Oleksandr Semenov, who survived his time with Skelya, reportedly suffered severe injuries and later died, with his cause of death officially listed as pneumonia. Semenov had shared a video showing a bloody gash on his side, and he claimed to have witnessed at least nine instances of soldiers taking their own lives within a four-day period due to mistreatment. He described beatings and being dragged along the ground by a quad bike.
Another soldier, Maksym Skipa, allegedly died by suicide after being severely beaten, according to Semenov, who retrieved his body. Dmytro Koval reportedly died 15 days after mobilization, with his wife stating his body showed signs of extreme beating. A fellow soldier claimed Koval was assaulted for refusing to serve on religious grounds.
Arkadiy, who stated he was forced into Skelya despite medical exemptions and essential worker status, described the training camp as resembling a prisoner-of-war situation, with a mined perimeter and guards armed with automatic weapons. He recounted being kneed in the head by draft officers when he resisted initial apprehension and later being shot in the arm and leg while attempting to escape. His friend was reportedly recaptured and held in a pit for three weeks.
Following the publication of the Babel investigation, Ukraine's commander-in-chief, Oleksandr Syrskyi, called the claims 'shameful' and confirmed that criminal cases have been opened. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has not yet commented on the allegations.