Ukrainian officials said Monday that they were investigating allegations of abuse by a military commander accused of beating soldiers and extorting money from them, as the war with Russia drags on.
The accusations were published by the leading news website Ukrainska Pravda, which said a platoon commander abused soldiers without facing consequences as his father was the brigade’s chief of staff.
The report triggered outrage on social media, with officials quick to vow an investigation and the army announcing the commander’s suspension during the checks.
“The defense ministry’s main inspectorate will immediately begin investigating the allegations,” Defense Minister Rustem Umerov said on Facebook.
Ukrainska Pravda identified the commander as Vladyslav Pastukh of the 211th brigade, and said he had beaten a serviceman and forced others into paying him to avoid being used as “cannon fodder” at the front.
The report included a photo of a man posing in front of a soldier, his faced blurred, tied to a wooden cross.
Ukrainska Pravda also alledged that those who abused soldiers were “promoted” while troops who had spoken out were “sent to the infantry”.
Infantry troops are known to have some of the highest percentage of casualties on the battlefield.
“Such a shameful phenomenon must not exist!” Ukrainian human rights ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets said on social media.
“I’m taking the situation under my personal control and will report on the results of the investigation!”
Ukraine’s General Staff said it had opened an internal investigation in September 2024 and initiated criminal proceedings.
It said the commander was suspended for the duration of the inspection.
But Umerov, the defense minister, criticized delays.
“We will examine why the military law enforcement service took so long to investigate these disgraceful matters,” he said.
The report comes as Ukraine’s army, plagued by a reputation of corruption, struggles to recruit fresh forces to fight against Russia.
“Delays in investigations, nepotism, extortion and mistreatment of servicemen are unacceptable in the third year of war,” Umerov said.
