Ukraine's Skelia Regiment denies heavy losses near Pokrovsk and criticizes volunteer Sternenko
Serhii Sternenko claimed that the 425th Separate Assault Regiment “Skelia” sent a mechanized column to assault Russian positions near Pokrovsk in Donetsk Oblast, resulting in many soldiers being killed. However, the unit itself denies this in a statement from Skelia provided to journalists.
Earlier, the Russian Center for Advanced Unmanned Technologies “Rubikon” published video of the destruction of Ukrainian Western-made equipment near the settlement of Hryshyne, allegedly attempting a breakthrough. The Russians also claimed Ukrainian soldiers were killed.
Defense Ministry adviser Serhii Sternenko posted the footage, stating that “what is being done to people in certain units is no better than Russian practices.”
“We often laugh at the enemy when it sends its soldiers in columns to assault. Under conditions of total drone dominance, columns become easy targets and the enemy suffers heavy losses. […] Treating our people this way is a crime. And there must be accountability for it,” he wrote.
What Skelia says
Skelia confirmed that on March 31 its unit conducted assault actions to enter and consolidate on one of the sectors of the city of Pokrovsk. However, it called the Russian video “edited” from different days and different sectors of the front, and “not directly related to the operation of March 31.”
At the same time, the regiment acknowledged that during the assault actions the day before, it used armored vehicles with additional protection, reliable communications, aerial reconnaissance, and fire support from drones, artillery, and a tank.
During the Russian counterattack, enemy drones managed to hit four units of Ukrainian armored vehicles right at the target. Despite this, the assault group successfully dismounted and completed the assigned task, and is now continuing to fight for “one of the key tactical objects in Pokrovsk,” the regiment said.
According to the regiment, its losses in the battle on March 31 amounted to two soldiers who were killed near the armored vehicles by drone strikes. At the same time, all vehicle crews were successfully evacuated by the fifth combat vehicle in the column, which reportedly returned intact.
Thus, the regiment called the counterattack successful and criticized Sternenko for drawing conclusions “that do not correspond to reality but correspond to the goals of Russian propaganda.”
“We are open to professional dialogue, checks and analysis. But we consider it unacceptable for a representative of the defense department to publicly disseminate statements not based on communication with participants in the operation, not based on official investigation data, but solely on video and statements from the enemy,” the regiment’s statement reads. It added that it is analyzing the combat actions, including those of March 31, and will provide materials to the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Gen. Oleksandr Syrskyi.
In addition, the regiment invited Sternenko to visit its headquarters today or tomorrow (April 1–2) “to see with his own eyes what happened and publish conclusions based on Ukrainian data, not only Russian.”
“Similarly, if Mr. Sternenko knows how to organize assault actions against enemy strongholds in Pokrovsk — we are ready to give him, as well as all Ukrainian men and women who have not yet been mobilized, the opportunity to apply his experience in practice within our unit and take direct part in defending the Motherland,” Skelia said.