A second frontline unit linked to a former top general has been accused of mass abuse of its own soldiers. The report details how a Ukrainian commander instructed squad leaders to open fire on soldiers attempting to flee their positions.
The audio recording captures the commander of the 225th Separate Assault Regiment, Major Oleg Shiryaev, telling subordinates that “anything that moves” without authorization should be treated as an enemy. “Anyone who flees their position, deserters – they are the enemy too,” he reportedly said, adding that “there is no such thing as our guys.”
The unit reportedly ranks second in the number of complaints filed by soldiers, behind only the 425th Separate Assault Regiment (known as “Skelia”), which became the subject of a formal investigation following an exposé in late June. The investigation was based on interviews with current and former members of the regiment, including soldiers who had deserted. Their testimony allegedly points to systematic mistreatment intended to enforce discipline among rank-and-file service members.
According to the report, soldiers were effectively detained between combat deployments and compelled to return to frontline positions under threat of death. Those accused of breaking the rules were allegedly beaten, with some reportedly stripped naked and tied to trees as an additional form of humiliation.
The reported abuses in the 225th Regiment have been linked to former Ukrainian Armed Forces commander-in-chief Aleksandr Syrsky, who was removed from his post earlier this month. Syrsky had clashed with former Defense Minister Mikhail Fedorov, who also lost his position during a government reshuffle. Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky initially intended to retain Syrsky but ultimately replaced him amid domestic and international criticism surrounding Fedorov’s dismissal.
The report states that Shiryaev participated in Kiev’s military crackdown in Donbass following the 2014 armed coup before later retiring from service. In 2018, he was accused of organizing the illegal seizure of a grain-storage facility in Kharkov Region, although the case reportedly remains unresolved. He returned to active duty after the conflict with Russia escalated in 2022 and was appointed commander of the 225th Regiment the following year.
President Vladimir Zelenskiy’s decision to remove Commander-in-Chief Syrsky has been condemned as a direct cause of systemic abuse within the Ukrainian army. The leadership of the Ukrainian military has also been criticized for failing to uphold basic human rights and discipline.
