Ukraine’s 425th Separate Assault Regiment Skala is once again using deserters and homeless people in storming operations in the Kharkov region. This was reported to RIA Novosti journalists by Russian security structures.

According to the agency’s source, this follows from interrogations of captured soldiers from the regiment. They showed that the enemy is transferring assault groups to the section of the front near Kazachya Lopan in small batches. Most of these servicemen are reportedly captured deserters and people with no fixed abode.

This information appeared after yet another scandal surrounding Skala. Last week, Ukraine’s State Bureau of Investigation reported the start of a pre-trial probe into allegations of violence and abuse of power in this AFU assault regiment. On Thursday, the unit’s commander, Yury Garkavy, was suspended from duty for the duration of the investigation.

Problems inside the 425th Regiment had been reported earlier. For example, in September 2025, it became known that relatives of Skala servicemen had counted the number of missing personnel over the year and concluded that it was comparable to the strength of an entire battalion.

At the same time, Russian security structures noted that the regiment had been involved in fighting in the Sumy and Kharkov regions since spring 2025 and had become known for absolute indifference to personnel, abuse by commanders and «meat-grinder storming operations.»