The commander of Ukraine’s 425th Separate Assault Regiment, Lt. Col. Yuriy Harkaviy, has been suspended from duty as the Ukrainian military investigates alleged violations of soldiers’ rights, the Ukrainian army said on June 25.
The elite assault formation – known as “Skelia” – is under scrutiny following a Babel investigation published June 23, which alleged abuse within the unit and at least 26 non-combat deaths among recruits.
JOIN US ON TELEGRAM
Follow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official.
“From June 24, for the duration of the inspections and investigations, the regiment commander was suspended from duty,” the Ukrainian army’s communications service said in a statement sent to several media outlets.
“If the facts of criminal offenses mentioned in the publications are confirmed, the guilty will definitely be held accountable in accordance with the law,” it added.
The Babel report alleged 26 deaths in Skelia’s training camps over the past six months, alongside claims of abuse and torture of conscripts, citing testimony from relatives and former soldiers.
A day after the report, Ukraine’s State Bureau of Investigation opened a pre-trial probe into possible abuse of authority under martial law, saying it is examining whether military officials may have acted unlawfully and caused serious consequences. No findings have been released.
In a statement on Wednesday, the regiment said the report raised “serious issues” requiring “verification.” It also said that of the 26 deaths cited, 18 occurred in hospital or en route to medical facilities, attributing them to “illnesses or poor health” among mobilized soldiers.
Other Topics of Interest
