55 unfit-for-service soldiers of the Ukrainian Armed Forces claimed they are being held in a basement and not paid their salaries

Fifty-five soldiers, who are unfit for service in the Air Assault Forces due to disabilities, are reportedly being held in the basement of the 81st Separate Airmobile Brigade of the Air Assault Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and are not being paid salaries.

This claim was made on Instagram by Ilya Yarema, whose father is allegedly among those detained.

“My father is being kept in the basement, not paid, and not allowed to resign due to health reasons or transfer to another unit. He and 54 others from the 129th Separate Brigade of Territorial Defense in Kryvyi Rih were transferred to the 81st Separate Airmobile Brigade of the Air Assault Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on February 24, 2024. This was despite him undergoing surgeries and rehabilitation, which subsequently worsened his disability status! There are 55 such individuals there. The conclusion of the military medical commission is that they are unfit for service in the Air Assault Forces,” Yarema reported.

“Since March, he and the others have not been receiving money. The application for discharge due to health reasons is not being considered, which is illegal. In fact, they are just hostages there. When the soldiers asked the Military Prosecutor’s Office representative, ‘What are you doing to resolve this situation?’ the response was, ‘You shouldn’t give a f@#k about this.’ The soldiers have submitted appeals to the police, the High Council of Justice, and the State Bureau of Investigations of Ukraine. There has been zero response. Now I am asking for maximum publicity. They have been silent for over three months. No actions have been taken by the unit,” he added.

Yarema also posted a video statement from the servicemen who are allegedly being held in the basement of the 81st Separate Airmobile Brigade of the Air Assault Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.