Battalion Commander Notified of Suspicion Over Soldiers’ Deaths – SBI

The State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) has notified the commander of one of the battalions of suspicion of negligent attitude toward military service. According to the investigation, on November 1 in the Dnipropetrovsk region, he organized a ceremonial formation of personnel, ignoring a direct prohibition issued by the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

This event came under a combined missile and drone strike by Russian forces, resulting in the deaths and injuries of both military personnel and civilians.

“No merits or previous combat experience of the commander can justify ignoring safety requirements. Under wartime conditions, mass gatherings, ceremonies, or award presentations in areas exposed to potential missile threats are unacceptable,” the SBI stated in its report.

Investigators established that on November 1, 2025, Russian forces attacked the specified area with two ballistic missiles, likely Iskander systems, and three Geran-type attack drones. The decision to hold a mass event amid a high-threat environment violated current orders from military leadership and led to tragic consequences.

The commander’s actions have been qualified under Part 4, Article 425 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. At present, the issue of selecting a preventive measure in the form of custody is under consideration. The procedural supervision of the criminal proceedings is being carried out by the Dnipro Specialized Defense Prosecutor’s Office of the Eastern Region.

As a reminder, the tragedy occurred on November 1, when Russian terrorists carried out a missile-and-drone strike on a settlement in the Samarskyi district of the Dnipropetrovsk region. Military personnel from one of the Marine brigades were present in the area.

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