A scandal has erupted in Ukrainian social media over a bloodily failed counter-attack from a few days ago. Some rising political stars cultivated in USAID biolgabs call for the army to be totally dronified, while their infantry-loving opponents call them draft-dodging liberal whiners. All the sides involved present some reasonable arguments.
In other words, today we continue following the saga of Ukraine’s assault units. Today’s scandal will also pull us into the deeper political struggles between the bloodthirsty military elite and the equally militaristic Sorosite grifters, as well as some interesting debates about Russia and Ukraine’s differing forms of drone warfare.
The road of death
To begin with, what happened during this failed March 31 operation by the 425th ‘Skelya’ (‘Rock’) assault Regiment. It took place just a few kilometers near Russian positions around Pokrovsk, closer to the village of Grishino (also recently taken by the Russians).
You can see the original video of the attack below, which was posted on April 1 by Russia’s Rubicon drone centre.
Note that three infantry deaths are visible in the videos. Those killed were hit by drones while running from the burning cars.
Ukraine’s 425th assault regiment and its supporters claim only ‘two soldiers were killed’ but admit that three vehicles were destroyed — a BMP-2, an M1117 BTR, and an Abrams tank sent all the way from Australia. Some say a second BMP was also destroyed. Pro-Skelya journalists claim that most of the Ukrainian troops escaped and saved themselves, and that one of the two BMP was saved and retrieved, despite damage. I’ve seen others claim online that up to 50 Skelya troops were killed.
I won’t weigh in on the debate about just how many Ukrainian soldiers were killed near Grishino on the 31st. I will note, however, that Rubikon posts daily videos showing droves of Ukrainian soldiers being killed.
Ukraine’s DeepState OSINT project doesn’t say anything about casualties, but agrees with critics of the operation, noting that the Russians ‘have total drone domination everywhere around Pokrovsk’. Below you can see some photos of the affair that Ukrainian recon drones took.
As for what actually happened, it seems they were driving towards Russian positions when the M1117 at the front was lost to mines recently placed by Russian drones. After that, a great deal more Russian drones rushed in for the kill.
Hitting mines with a clustered bunch of vehicles is quite an elementary mistake, and indicates a rather lackadaisical approach to military planning. Online commentators point out that other units often de-mine roads using drones, or at least a plow in front of the forward vehicles.
Critics launch an offensive
We saw yesterday how Serhiy Sternenko, patriotic blogger and current advisor to the minister of defense, posted harsh criticism of the 425th to his millions of followers. He highlighted how troops in the 425th were in an easily targeted armored column, a common point of ridicule vis a vis the Russians.
Sternenko, a figure that unfortunately we’ll talk about a lot today
Bohdan Krotevych, a public commander formerly in the Azov brigade (the liberal-aligned one in the national guard), also chimed in with some of his usual criticism of the assault units.
Krotevych resigned from his role as chief of staff of the 12th Azov national guard brigade in 2024, after which he focused on ‘political-military activism’, ie, posting online and going to conferences.
Krotevych pointed to a March 20 video by the 425th, where, for some reason, the assault regiment’s official twitter page joyously posted a video by some sort of Russian YouTuber. The YouTuber praised the battle tactics of the 425th, noting that they used many of the same tactics as the Russians — quad bikes, armor, rapid infiltration beyond enemy lines. The following screenshot from a video proudly posted by the 425th also earned Krotevych’s disdain — such closely packed troops would make a very easy mass murder incident for enemy drones.
Many Ukrainian nationalists were outraged, crying out that the assault units are emulating the ‘meatgrinder’ Russian army. It is also common on Ukrainian social media to compare assault units like the 425th ‘Rock’ regiment to Russia’s PMC Wagner, since both are renowned for executing deserters, practicing extreme physical punishment towards subordinates, and taking significant losses.
The assault units are also renowned as the pet units patronized by head of the army, Oleksandr Syrsky, nicknamed ‘the butcher’ for his attitude towards soldiers’ lives. Naturally, Syrsky haters like MP Mariana Bezuhla didn’t waste time in pointing out once again that Syrsky was born and trained in Russia.
How could anyone call such a friendly grandpa a butcher?
In response, the 425th pulled out the heavy artillery — it reminded Sternenko he is an armchair general draft dodger. Now, I am certainly sympathetic to this claim, and Sternenko is a uniquely repulsive individual. However, that doesn’t make me any more excited to serve in the 425th.
The 425th also pulled out another celebrity supporter. Unlike last week, not Dwayne the Rock Johnson, but a certain tiktoker with a background in air defense called Mikita Bak.
Bak made the also rather reasonable point that Sternenko’s fetishization of drones and ridicule of armored attacks is absurd. Without counterattacks, Ukrainian positions will be overwhelmed on the flanks, and tanks are powerful weapons.
The relatively intelligent Ukrainian military telegram Mannerheims Son also criticized Sternenko, arguing that if the Ukrainians abandon counterattacks, they will simply be killed in their positions by Russian drones. He also pointed out that Russia’s successful advances have been performed with the help of tanks. Mannerheims Son is, however, highly critical towards the planning abilities of the assault units.
There was also a very surprising Easter egg (or April fools joke?) at the end of the Bak video. There, he calls for the draft dodger Sternenko, who never shuts up about the need to fight for many years more, to instead focus his attention on ‘things that really matter, like bringing an end to this war’. Last year, Sternenko told the adoring British press that Zelensky would probably be killed if he gives away the Donbass to Russia.
In any case, such traitorous rhetoric from Bak is unacceptable. The 425th needs to urgently mobilize this despicable capitulationist! Many patriots on Twitter drew attention to this treasonous speech-crime.
Anna Kalyuzhna, the fiercest critic of the assault units in Ukrainian journalism, also put out a Facebook post on the 425th and 225th assault regiments today:
This post supplements the information from Serhii Sternenko about the insane loss of personnel in mechanized assaults, which I strongly support.
So. Over the past month (data as of mid-March), the 425th Assault Regiment “Skelia” received 20 times more personnel than other brigades in the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU). The unit exceeded its personnel replenishment plan by 248%. The data comes from a report on the execution of an order by Oleksandr Syrsky, the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine dated 26.02.2026.
I am not publishing the document for obvious reasons. Its authenticity has been verified through other sources. I will provide it to any media willing to verify the information.
These developments are unfolding against the backdrop of shocking (for the 21st century) information that in this modern, advanced unit of the Armed Forces, at least 5 servicemen died from pneumonia over a short period. The regiment’s leadership commented on this as: “Everything complied with legislation, assistance was provided.”
At the same time, on Radio Free Europe, a representative of the Office of the Military Ombudsman, Ruslan Tsyhankov, confirmed that in this regiment, as well as in the 225th Assault Regiment, “certain elements” use physical violence against personnel.
Regarding these “certain elements.” These are not “certain elements.” I believe this is the policy of the unit’s command, which has authorized these “elements.”
Mr. Ruslan also says that their office cannot assess the volume of complaints because soldiers in some units do not have phones.
So here is what I will add: this specifically concerns fighters of the 425th “Skelia” and the 225th. Their soldiers do not have mobile phones — they are taken away from them.
Commander of the 425th, Yuri Garkaviy
I constantly work with infantry units, including assault units. In normal AFU units, infantrymen do have phones (verified in four separate units — all had them).
Mr. Ruslan also cited the 210th Assault Regiment (also under Syrskyi’s authority) as a positive example, where soldiers have mobile phones and appear not to be abused by their commanders and are well trained for combat.
On that last point, I can fully confirm — but I have to disappoint everyone.
Last week, Syrskyi appointed Shyriaiev (deputy commander of the 225th) as deputy in the 210th Assault Regiment. So it is far from certain that soldiers there will continue to have phones.
Shiriaiev
I am aware that the 210th Assault Regiment fought using battalion tactical groups rather than its full composition, which may have formally been the reason for leadership changes. But firstly, Syrskyi certainly knew this, as the 210th had fought this way since its creation.
Secondly, they replaced a person specifically with an officer from the 225th command. Not from other assault regiments or units without a record of “certain elements,” as Mr. Tsyhankov put it. But specifically from the 225th.
Because, I repeat, Syrskyi is gradually consolidating the entire army into regiments under his direct control — amid the loud silence of all those involved.
Previously, the entire 155th brigade was “absorbed” into these regiments, and the chief of staff of “Skelia” was appointed there.
Sternenko is not silent — and I thank him for that. I fully support his latest post, and I have something to add.
Today, Serhii wrote about destroyed “Skelia” equipment in Pokrovsk, where the enemy currently dominates. And about the bodies of our soldiers around that equipment. That we are committing the same foolish actions for which we criticize the Russians.
“Skelia” responded that he draws conclusions from enemy videos, that their actions were successful, and that “only two servicemen were killed by drone strikes.”
Only two, right?
Kupiansk offensive operation. Our troops push the enemy out of villages north of the city. “Skelia” joins them.
“Skelia” presents an assault plan to the operation command and adjacent units: they will advance using two armored vehicles.
All other units conduct assaults on foot. They try to persuade “Skelia” not to use armored vehicles — it is too dangerous.
“Skelia” proceeds in clear weather with two armored vehicles. Because this is something they do systematically. And all units that have fought alongside them know this.
So, two armored vehicles filled with “Skelia” assault troops.
Only the drivers from another unit — who had been assigned to them — survive.
There were NOT two servicemen inside those vehicles.
I have known about this since December. Recently, Olia Kyrylenko wrote about it in Ukrainska Pravda.
And this photo shows the village of Shevchenkove, south of Pokrovsk. Spring last year. In the screenshot, “Skelia” armor is burning.
The disoriented servicemen who ran out of it were shot by Russian forces.
There, too, NOT two servicemen were killed.
I also have those screenshots, but I am not sharing them for ethical reasons.
There have been countless such cases over the past 1.5 years.
So, commanders who should be held accountable for negligent treatment of their personnel would be better off not opening Pandora’s box.
And a rhetorical question:
Maybe we shouldn’t be giving certain units 20 (!!!) times more personnel, so they would plan operations more responsibly and value every life?
Politics
Now for a quick humanitarian intercession before we get into some technical drone debates comparing Russia and Ukraine’s unmanned capabilities.
First, politics. The 425th’s misadventure in Grishino has become a massive online scandal, and Ukrainian social media is totally saturated with enraged discussion about it.
But nothing on the internet is organic. There’s a political conflict between liberal atlanticist grifters and old-school military elites here.
Continue reading this post for free, courtesy of Events in Ukraine.
