Over 20 Mobilized Soldiers Dead and Medical Care Failures: Inside the 'Skelya' Investigation.

Investigation into the 425th Separate Assault Regiment 'Skelya'

According to Espreso.tv: An investigative report by the online outlet 'Babel' has uncovered serious issues within the 425th Separate Assault Regiment 'Skelya', focusing on training conditions for mobilized troops, medical support, and potential violations of servicemen's rights. Drawing on testimony from over thirty individuals, the probe highlights critical failures in healthcare delivery and social welfare for soldiers.

Combat Roles and Health Concerns

The 425th Separate Assault Regiment 'Skelya' is one of the most prominent assault units in the Ukrainian Armed Forces, having fought in the battles for Izium, Soledar, Bakhmut, Avdiivka, and the Pokrovsk sector. According to reports, a facility known as the 'chicken coop' housed over a thousand people at once. Among the mobilized were individuals struggling with addictions or severe health conditions. In recent months, more than twenty deaths have been recorded among mobilized personnel. Officially listed causes of death include:

• pneumonia
• cardiovascular diseases
• cardiomyopathy
• cardiopulmonary failure
• infectious complications

On May 17, 2023, the outlet 'Suspilne' published a report on five soldiers from the Ivano-Frankivsk region who died while serving in the 425th OShP 'Skelya'. The following day, May 18, 2023, Dmytro Lubinets announced a separate inspection of the unit. On May 19, 2023, the regiment commented on the deaths of these five mobilized soldiers, citing 'hidden pathologies' and the possibility of a fall from a tree.

Key issues identified by the investigation include:

• the quality of work by military medical commissions
• the mobilization of people with serious illnesses
• access to medical care in training centers
• oversight of servicemen's rights
• mechanisms for responding to complaints from the mobilized

These concerns raise serious questions about service conditions and the safety of those mobilized into the 'Skelya' regiment.

The journalists' investigation points to systemic flaws in how soldiers are trained and cared for, which could severely impact morale and combat effectiveness. With active hostilities ongoing, ensuring proper medical support and upholding military personnel rights is crucial to preventing further losses and maintaining unit stability.