The State Bureau of Investigation is investigating several more cases of alleged torture in military units
This was announced by Oleksiy Sukhachov, Director of the State Bureau of Investigation, in an interview with ‘Interfax-Ukraine’.
According to him, in order to detect such cases at an earlier stage, law enforcement agencies need advance information from field commanders, other law enforcement agencies and operational staff.
What the State Bureau of Investigation said
Sukhachov noted that the only way to verify whether there are non-combat casualties or instances of abuse in other units of the Defence Forces is only possible through a systematic assessment of the morale and psychological state of every military formation, brigade or unit — both on the front line and in the rear.
According to the Director of the State Bureau of Investigation, there are currently several criminal proceedings at the Bureau similar to the ‘Skely’ case. Investigative and search operations are ongoing in these cases.
He emphasised that the SBI’s task is to minimise such incidents within units and prevent new cases from occurring.
Why information from commanders is needed
The Director of the DBR stated that the Bureau cannot always promptly obtain full information from military units on its own, unless there are reports from victims, the command or other law enforcement agencies.
According to him, local commanders have an important role to play, as they can provide timely reports on the state of affairs within military units.
Sukhatchev also noted that the SBI is attempting to communicate with the command and, where possible, recommends preventive measures — disciplinary decisions, personnel changes or rotations.
What is known about the ‘Skelya’ case
Separately, the Director of the SBI reported that five criminal proceedings concerning the ‘Skelya’ regiment, registered in 2025 and early 2026, are currently under investigation by the SBI’s regional office in Poltava.
Following a journalistic investigation, the Bureau opened a further criminal case. The DBR states that it plans to approach the Office of the Prosecutor General regarding the consolidation of these cases and to assess the actions of each commander.
Pending the investigations, Yuriy Harkavyi, commander of the ‘Skelya’ regiment, has been suspended from his duties. The regiment itself had previously confirmed the deaths among its personnel and stated that each case was being investigated.
At the same time, the State Bureau of Investigation emphasises that, at this stage, the focus is on criminal proceedings and investigating the circumstances. The guilt of specific individuals can only be established by a court.
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