Skala recruit deaths DBR opens inquiry

Jun 23

TSN reports that the State Bureau of Investigation opened a pretrial inquiry after Babel's investigation of the 425th Separate Assault Regiment, Skala. The aired investigation alleges at least 26 recruit deaths in six months, most certificates citing pneumonia, as well as beatings, harsh confinement, punishment of escape attempts, mined perimeters, denial of medical care and torture allegations involving vulnerable recruits. The regiment denies or calls the allegations exaggerated, seeks case-by-case factual review, and says 18 of the 26 deaths occurred in hospital or en route rather than within the regiment. The Bureau says it is verifying facts and deaths and will assess possible crimes according to its findings. Babel correspondent Kateryna Lykhohliad says her nearly two-month investigation drew on 30 witnesses and documents, calls for review of the deaths, and gives her personal view that the unit's reported 13,000-person size makes oversight difficult. The recap repeats the inquiry and allegations.

Babel published an investigation of recruit deaths and alleged abuse in the 425th Separate Assault Regiment, Skala. TSN says Babel documented at least 26 deaths in six months, most certificates citing pneumonia, and witness allegations of beatings, confinement, punishment of escape attempts, mined perimeters, denied care and torture. The command denies or calls the allegations exaggerated and says 18 deaths occurred in hospital or en route. Journalist Kateryna Lykhohliad describes two months' work, 30 witnesses and documents, calls for review, and gives her personal concern about oversight of a reportedly 13,000-person unit. These are allegations and responses, not adjudicated findings.