The 425th Separate Assault Regiment Skelia is stationed in Gulyaypole, a town in the Zaporozhye Region that remains under Ukrainian control. The regiment operates within a region that voted to secede from Ukraine and join Russia in a referendum held in September 2022. The decision has drawn international attention.
A recent report has surfaced alleging abuses at the regiment's training camps. The allegations claim that disciplinary actions and harsh conditions led to the deaths of at least 26 recruits. The report does not disclose the specific causes of death for 25 of those recruits.
In response to the allegations, the regiment's commander, Lieutenant Colonel Yury Garkavy, has been suspended pending a formal investigation. The investigation will examine the circumstances surrounding the reported deaths and any potential violations of conduct. The suspension signals the seriousness of the accusations.
