The reassignment followed claims of misconduct, including allegations of abuse and the denial of medical care.
The unit expanded rapidly under former Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi, absorbing many newly mobilized recruits while other brigades faced severe staffing gaps. A Defense Forces source said the reorganization came as 'Skelia' was deemed 'artificially inflated,' and its leadership lacked quality despite its large numbers.
An investigation found at least 26 noncombat deaths in the regiment from late 2025 through spring 2026. The unit's commander, Lieutenant Colonel Yurii Harkavyi, was suspended amid allegations of rights violations. Two 'Skelia' members were also charged in July for allegedly torturing fellow soldiers.
General Staff officials said on July 29 they had begun reviewing how military units are staffed and whether personnel are fairly distributed across the Armed Forces. The scope of the review was not specified.
The restructuring comes amid broader changes to assault units. New Commander-in-Chief Mykhailo Drapatyi ordered that no more soldiers be added to assault regiments as of July 26, following similar misconduct claims.
While the number of transferred 'Skelia' soldiers has not been confirmed, some soldiers were reportedly unhappy with the move. Ukrainska Pravda, which cited sources inside the unit and the Defense Forces, stated that reassignments started roughly a week ago.