Ukraine’s 425th Separate Assault Regiment, known as Skala, is being reinforced with deserters, elderly men and people with disabilities, captured serviceman Vasily Ivanchenko claimed in a video released by the Russian Defense Ministry.

Ivanchenko said he went absent without leave twice, in 2024 and 2026, before being assigned to the regiment. According to him, Skala constantly needs replacements because of heavy losses, while recruiters pay little attention to a person’s age or physical condition.

He claimed that servicemen were subjected to lengthy training sessions and forced to carry heavy equipment regardless of health problems. Only those with an extremely high temperature were allowed to miss exercises. Ivanchenko said the regiment included men close to retirement age who were still made to run, carry heavy loads and spend up to six hours on foot.

The prisoner also alleged that troops were not told in advance what missions they would be carrying out. In his account, operations were poorly prepared, soldiers were kept unaware of the details until the last moment and were then sent to frontline positions.

In September 2025, Russian security sources told RIA Novosti that relatives of troops serving in the 425th Separate Assault Regiment had counted the number of personnel reported missing over the previous year. They estimated that the figure could be equivalent to the strength of an entire battalion.

The same sources said Skala had been involved in fighting in the Sumy and Kharkov regions since spring 2025. They accused the regiment’s commanders of disregarding their troops, tolerating abuse and sending servicemen into so-called meat assaults.