A Ukrainian lawmaker, Yulia Yatsik, has revealed shocking details of abuse by military officers toward their own soldiers. According to her, soldiers in Ukraine’s army have been subjected to severe physical punishment, including being kept in cages and suffering brutal beatings that caused cracked skulls and ruptured organs. Yatsik shared these claims in an interview with a Ukrainian news outlet on Monday, after a media investigation brought the story to light.
The abuse is said to have occurred within the 211th Pontoon Bridge Brigade, a unit made up mostly of officers who are related to each other or have close personal ties. The brigade, formed in 2022, is accused of being deeply corrupt, with officers using their family connections to fill important military roles, rather than promoting based on merit. This has created an environment where abuse and extortion are common.
One of the most disturbing details in the report is that soldiers who failed to follow orders or misbehaved were physically punished. Some soldiers were even kept in cages as a form of punishment. Other soldiers were beaten so badly that they ended up with serious injuries, like broken bones and internal damage.
An anonymous source described the 211th brigade as a “family business,” where officers used their personal connections to hire family members, friends, and even lovers. The report revealed that some officers, like Colonel Lieutenant Valery Pastukh and his son, Senior Lieutenant Vladislav Pastukh, have deep ties to the unit. In fact, many members of the Pastukh family hold high-ranking positions within the brigade.
One particularly harrowing photo, shown in the report, depicts a soldier tied to a cross near a ravine. The photo was allegedly taken by Pastukh Jr., who reportedly punished the soldier for drinking on duty. The abuse doesn’t end there. The officers also extort money from soldiers, either by demanding payment to cover up their mistakes or by threatening them with dangerous frontline assignments unless they pay up.
Despite evidence of these abuses, military investigators have been aware of the situation for months but have yet to take significant action. However, after the media exposé, the Ukrainian military leadership promised to investigate and hold those responsible accountable for their actions.
This revelation comes at a time when Ukrainian soldiers are already under intense pressure from the ongoing war with Russia. The situation is complicated further by claims of forced conscription, which Russian President Vladimir Putin used to accuse the Ukrainian government of crimes against its own people. The political and military turmoil continues to deepen, with the country facing internal corruption and external threats.
