{"id":594959,"date":"2026-06-25T18:01:04","date_gmt":"2026-06-25T15:01:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/korabelov.info\/2026\/06\/594959\/death-of-a-soldier-from-mykolaiv-region-and-25-more-cases-an-investigation-into-the-skelya-regiment\/"},"modified":"2026-06-25T18:01:08","modified_gmt":"2026-06-25T15:01:08","slug":"death-of-a-soldier-from-mykolaiv-region-and-25-more-cases-an-investigation-into-the-skelya-regiment","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/korabelov.info\/en\/2026\/06\/594959\/death-of-a-soldier-from-mykolaiv-region-and-25-more-cases-an-investigation-into-the-skelya-regiment\/","title":{"rendered":"Death of a soldier from Mykolaiv region and 25 more cases: an investigation into the \"Skelya\" regiment"},"content":{"rendered":"

From the end of 2025 to the spring of 2026, at least 26 service members<\/strong> of the 425th Separate Assault Regiment “Skelia”<\/strong> died among the regiment\u2019s recruits. According to journalists, these cases were not related to combat operations.<\/p>\n

This is reported in an investigation by the publication \u201cBabel\u201d<\/a>, published on June 23.<\/p>\n

Journalists established that most of the soldiers died shortly after mobilization from pneumonia, cardiovascular diseases, and other health problems. At the same time, relatives of some of the deceased claim that medical assistance was provided to them with delays. In several cases, families also suspect possible violence during training.<\/p>\n

One of the deceased was 34-year-old Vitaliy Saltan<\/strong> from Kropyvnytskyi. He was mobilized at the end of January 2026, and less than a month later the man died in a hospital from pneumonia.<\/p>\n

The soldier\u2019s mother and wife told TSN journalists that Vitaliy had a high temperature and a severe cough for a long time, but allegedly he was not allowed to go to the hospital until the last moment. According to relatives, similar symptoms were observed in some of his comrades.<\/p>\n

Another described case concerns 50-year-old Dmytro Koval<\/strong> from Volyn, who died two weeks after arriving at the unit. His wife stated that she saw numerous bruises and injuries on her husband\u2019s body. Former service members who trained with him also told journalists about suspected brutal treatment.<\/p>\n

The investigation paid particular attention to 32-year-old Volodymyr Tsukanov<\/strong> from Mykolaiv region<\/strong>. He was mobilized to the “Skelia” regiment on January 15, 2026, and on February 11 he died in a hospital. The official cause of death was stated as pulmonary-cardiac failure. At the same time, the forensic medical examination recorded a blunt chest injury and multiple rib fractures.<\/p>\n

According to the investigation, on January 20 Tsukanov, along with other recruits, was transferred to the 1st Separate Assault Regiment named after Dmytro Kotsyubailo. The investigation believes that the serviceman was beaten that day.<\/p>\n

The case reports a suspicion<\/strong> was brought against Junior Sergeant of “Skelia” Anatoliy Kucher<\/strong>. In the courtroom, when he was taken into custody, the sergeant himself admitted guilt. He said he beat him because he saw that Volodymyr was using drugs. He repented for what he had done, explained that he misjudged the force, and asked to be allowed to continue serving.<\/p>\n

According to the investigation, Kucher delivered three kicks with his left leg to Tsukanov\u2019s chest. After the man fell, he kicked him in the torso \u2014 breaking nine ribs. The chest contusion developed into bilateral purulent pneumonia. It was with this diagnosis that he was admitted to the hospital \u2014 he was delivered there already from 1st OShP.<\/span><\/p>\n

1st OShP did not respond to Babel\u2019s request regarding Volodymyr Tsukanov. The investigation so far has not charged anyone except the junior sergeant of “Skelia”. The accused, through his lawyer, gave Babel a different version. He says he did not beat the recruit, but only neutralized him when the recruit grabbed a guard\u2019s weapon: \u201cI just ran up, jumped and knocked the weapon out of his hands. And I fell together with him. I did not hit him with fists or feet.\u201d And his left leg, which, according to the investigation, he used to kick Volodymyr, he allegedly injured on the rifle during the incident. He hit it so hard that he was hospitalized and underwent surgery. When asked why he admitted guilt, Anatoliy answered: \u201cI got confused.\u201d<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, in “Skelia” itself they initially denied that the suspect in the beating was from their regiment at all: \u201cWe know nothing about the arrested sergeant of ‘Skelia’ who is suspected of beating him. If such a person exists, then he is a sergeant from 1st OShP, not ‘Skelia’.\u201d When the editorial office named the suspect\u2019s surname, the regiment acknowledged that he had indeed served with them \u2014 there they retold the version about drugs. It should be recalled that recruits in the regiment are searched by being stripped naked. How drugs could have been found on the deceased is unclear.<\/p>\n

Volodymyr Tsukanov was drug-dependent. In recent years the man cared for his paralyzed mother; she died last year. Their father died immediately after her. Volodymyr\u2019s closest person \u2014 his sister Alona \u2014 lives far away. Soon after their parents\u2019 deaths, the man tried once again to quit drugs, Alona says. So at first, when her brother was mobilized, she even thought it was for the better.<\/p>\n

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“I didn\u2019t think I would find him in the morgue”, \u2014 Alona told journalists.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

The woman wants not only for the perpetrator of the beating to be punished, but also for an investigation into how her brother was provided medical care in the other unit.<\/p>\n

Volodymyr contacted his sister by video call twice. The first time he said he had been beaten:<\/p>\n

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“He said he first ended up with complete degenerates who beat him badly, treated him like a dog, \u2018but now I\u2019m with good guys, everything is fine, don\u2019t worry\u2019”.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

The second time he said they told him he had broken ribs. She did not hear from him again.<\/p>\n