26 recruits have died in the ‘Skelya’ regiment in the space of six months — investigation
This is according to an investigation by *Babel*.
According to the investigation, at least 26 recruits died over a six-month period at the training centres of the 425th Separate Assault Regiment ‘Skelya’. Most of them, as ‘Babel’ notes, had not even spent a month in the unit.
Journalists interviewed more than 30 sources, including relatives of the deceased, regiment personnel and soldiers who had deserted. Some of those interviewed reported cruel treatment of conscripts, problems with medical care and inadequate living conditions.
What deaths are we talking about?
The article specifically refers to non-combat deaths, i.e. cases not directly related to participation in combat operations.
According to the journalists, some of the conscripts died from pneumonia, cardiovascular conditions, infectious complications, injuries or suicide. Relatives of some of the deceased claimed that the soldiers may not have received medical assistance in time.
‘Babel’ also reports that the bodies of some of the deceased showed signs of physical injury.
The story of Oleksandr Semenov
The investigation includes a separate account of the story of 35-year-old soldier Oleksandr Semenov. According to ‘Babel’, in January 2026 he arrived at a hospital in Kropyvnytskyi with multiple injuries after deserting his regiment.
The article states that medical staff recorded his testimony on video. Semenov claimed that he had been bullied, beaten, tied to a quad bike and dragged along the ground whilst in his unit. He also stated that he had witnessed at least nine suicides within the unit. A few days after the video was recorded, Semenov died in hospital; the official cause of death was pneumonia.
What is known about conditions for conscripts
Journalists report that, according to their sources, violations of the rights of conscripts may have begun as early as the sorting centre, informally known as the ‘chicken coop’.
The investigation highlights overcrowded premises with no proper access to communication, movement under the supervision of armed guards, possible beatings, punishment for escape attempts and the isolation of individual soldiers.
‘Babel’ also reports on conscripts with drug addiction, mental health conditions, HIV, tuberculosis and hepatitis C who, according to the publication’s sources, may have been left without the necessary medication or proper medical care.
What the ‘Skelya’ regiment has to say
Following the publication of the investigation, the 425th Separate Assault Regiment ‘Skelya’ stated that it was ready for inspections and to cooperate with law enforcement agencies.
The regiment’s command urged people not to jump to conclusions until all necessary inspections and investigative measures had been completed. The unit also stated that most of the deaths described were linked to the health of the conscripts, and rejected the allegations of systematic abuse.
The regiment emphasised that it responds to every instance of misconduct, and that some of the issues raised in the report have reportedly already been resolved.
The Military Ombudsman’s Position
The Office of the Military Ombudsman stated that the ‘Skelya’ regiment receives the highest number of complaints — 5.1 per cent of over 9,000 submissions.
First Deputy Military Ombudsman Ruslan Tsygankov noted that the rate of non-combat deaths among recruits in this unit is higher than in other units, but there is no ‘huge gap’. According to him, the issue of medical care remains key.
The investigation concerns not only this particular unit, but also the wider issue of the treatment of conscripts, conditions at training centres, medical care and the monitoring of non-combat deaths in the army.
As some of the allegations are based on testimonies from relatives and military personnel, the final assessment must be made by law enforcement agencies, the military command and independent investigations.
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