“Sent to die”: a Ukrainian MP reported that those who return from unauthorized leave are assigned only to assault brigades

You can only return from unauthorized leave “to be slaughtered” in assault brigades.

This was stated by People’s Deputy Anna Skorokhod.

“People are not returning to be slaughtered, and currently, it’s only possible to return from unauthorized leave to certain units. In most cases, these are assault brigades. I don’t understand the logic. On one hand, we want to bring people back from unauthorized leave. On the other, they are sent to assault brigades. Like penal units,” said Skorokhod.

She pointed out that the law on returning from unauthorized leave doesn’t specify that returnees can only be sent to certain brigades.

It’s worth noting that after the adoption of the law decriminalizing unauthorized leave, authorities assured that those who had fled service could return to their original unit or even transfer to a different one.

Skorokhod also reported that the Verkhovna Rada had received complaints from 16 military units where soldiers allege extortion and abuse by their commanders.

“I now have 16 military units that need to be investigated – units where commanders are taking money from soldiers for leave, for the chance to receive medical treatment, or simply collecting money because they decided to. From combat units, guys contribute to a common fund—or maybe not, it’s unclear. They abuse the soldiers, beat them if they don’t pay. They give orders that result in soldiers dying. We even have a unit where, no matter which group follows the previous one, they all go missing. No body – no case,” Skorokhod explained.

Previously, it was reported that in a military unit in Kramatorsk, soldier Valentyn Kozliuk was brutally killed. According to his widow, Valentyn was shot with an assault rifle by his own battalion commander for refusing to hand over money, which was allocated for frontline service, to the leadership.