Der Freiwillige, Blogger und Berater des Verteidigungsministers Serhii Sternenko warf den Kommandeuren der Einheit „Skelya“ verschwenderische Angriffe vor. Das Regiment antwortete, dass er aufgrund russischer Videos Schlussfolgerungen ziehe

**Translation:**

Volunteer, blogger, and advisor to the Minister of Defense Serhii Sternenko accused Ukrainian commanders from the 425th Regiment “Skelya” of organizing assaults in which Ukrainian soldiers become easy targets and die. The unit responded, calling Sternenko’s conclusions false. They also invited the advisor to obtain information directly from Ukrainian units.

**Source**: Sternenko’s post, comment of the 425th Assault Regiment “Skelya” provided to Ukrainska Pravda.

**Details**: On Wednesday, Sternenko published several screenshots from a video showing destroyed equipment. According to him, these are “remains of the 425th Regiment ‘Skelya’ equipment near Pokrovsk,” which was destroyed by the enemy. He did not specify when this happened.

**Direct speech**: “We often laugh at the enemy when it sends its troops in columns to assault. In conditions of total drone dominance, columns become easy targets, and the enemy suffers heavy losses.

And continues to do so again and again. But what about Ukrainian commanders who do the same?

The footage shows the remains of the 425th Regiment ‘Skelya’ equipment near Pokrovsk. I will not publish footage with the bodies of our soldiers. Unfortunately, there are many of them.

Treating our people like this is a crime. And there must be accountability for this.”

**Details**: “Skelya” stated that Sternenko drew conclusions based on Russian videos and that his information does not correspond to reality. The unit also described the course of the counterattack that took place on March 31.

**Verbatim**: “Mr. Sternenko used, in assessing the regiment’s actions, a post and video from Russian sources, which deliberately compiled footage of strikes from different days and different sections of the front, and which are not directly related to the operation of March 31. Based on Russian distorted data, Mr. Sternenko drew conclusions that do not correspond to reality, but rather align with the goals of Russian propaganda.”

What actually happened on March 31 near Pokrovsk?

The facts are as follows:

The soldiers of the “Skelya” regiment and the 155th Mechanized Brigade are carrying out orders to defend positions in the city of Pokrovsk. To support our fighters and destroy the advancing enemy, counterattacks are necessary. Otherwise, the enemy may encircle some of our positions, and all personnel would die without rotation, evacuation, or reinforcement.

On March 31, the “Skelya” regiment conducted a successful counterattack on one of the key tactical objectives in Pokrovsk that had been captured by the enemy.

To accomplish the task and preserve the lives of the fighters, favorable weather conditions were used; personnel moved in armored vehicles with additional protection; reliable communications, aerial reconnaissance, and fire support from drones, artillery, and a tank were established.

During the counterattack, enemy drones hit four units of our armored vehicles already near the objective of the attack.

The assault group successfully dismounted and completed the assigned task and is currently continuing to fight at the designated objective.

Our losses in the battle on March 31 amounted to two soldiers who were killed near the armored vehicles by drone strikes. All vehicle crews were evacuated on the fifth combat vehicle in the column, which returned intact.

The assault group at the objective continues to fight, remains in contact with command, and receives maximum fire support.

“We are open to professional dialogue, inspections, and analysis. But we consider it unacceptable to publicly disseminate statements by a representative of the defense sector not based on communication with participants of the operation, not based on official investigation data, but exclusively based on video and statements of the enemy. Such an approach does not contribute to establishing the truth, but only plays into the hands of the enemy.”

**Details**: The regiment stated that all reports on the events of March 31 will be submitted to the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. “Skelya” also invited Sternenko to visit the regiment’s headquarters and review Ukrainian data.

“If Mr. Sternenko is interested in the truth, we invite him today or tomorrow to come to the regiment’s headquarters to see for himself what happened and to publish conclusions based on Ukrainian data, not only Russian sources. That would be a responsible step for an advisor to the Minister of Defense.

Likewise, if Mr. Sternenko knows how to organize assault operations against enemy strongpoints in Pokrovsk, we are ready to offer him, as well as all Ukrainian men and women who have not yet been mobilized, the opportunity to apply this experience in practice within our unit and to take direct part in the defense of the Homeland,” the statement said.

Obviously don’t want needless deaths but you do lose more attacking or counter attacking. I would rather a safe retreat and let them have ground and just pummel it with drones and artillery and save the lives of Ukrainians. I’m not a general or tactician and I couldn’t stomach making decisions like this. Just need to preserve as many Ukrainian lives as we can. I know the land is important but damn I would rather there be more Ukrainians in a slightly smaller country. I’m too emotionally invested about this war to have any rational thought about this.