„Wenn ich zwei Tage lang TikToks über Skelya anschauen müsste, würde ich wahrscheinlich auch weglaufen“, – Stellvertretender Regimentskommandeur Nemo

**Translation:**

**1/2**

For a long time, “Skelya” and other assault regiments have been criticized for overly risky operations and negligent treatment of fighters. These units are called “meat” units or “Syrskyi’s regiments,” implying the unquestioning obedience of assault commanders in carrying out the orders of the Commander-in-Chief.

The latest scandal so far was connected to a post by an advisor to the Minister of Defense and volunteer Serhii Sternenko. On his social media, he published footage of destroyed armored vehicles near Pokrovsk that were used by “Skelya” fighters.

Suspilne spoke about this with Kostiantyn Rusanov, head of the 210th Separate Battalion of Unmanned Systems in the regiment. Rusanov — callsign “Nemo” — has been serving in “Skelya” since 2022. At that time, it was a small volunteer unit, and Rusanov was its soldier.

Nemo calls Sternenko’s publication of the footage from near Pokrovsk an undermining of the country’s defense capability. He explains this by saying that a screenshot of burned equipment without understanding the context of the operation is manipulation, and publicly criticizing combat commanders while an operation is ongoing is unacceptable. As an advisor to the Minister of Defense, Sternenko had the opportunity to request all the details of the operation directly from “Skelya,” Nemo is convinced — however, he did not do so.

The assessment of Sternenko’s actions by “Skelya” was not agreed upon by the regiment, so there are no direct quotes regarding this conflict in the interview. We recorded this conversation on Saturday, April 4, in a combat zone — accordingly, the materials were coordinated with the unit’s press service. Comments regarding the operation, other successful and unsuccessful assaults by “Skelya,” and the replenishment of the regiment with mobilized personnel remained unchanged.

**On April 1, the regiment’s page published an official statement that in the operation near Pokrovsk, footage of which was released, among others, by volunteer Serhii Sternenko, two people were killed, and the rest were evacuated.**

That’s exactly how it is. Indeed, the screenshots from Russian videos show damaged equipment. Yes, it burned. But it fulfilled its task — the personnel survived.

**Since your drones are constantly in the air observing everything around, did you see from the drone what was happening during this operation?**

First of all, this operation was carried out specifically under fog. Secondly, it wasn’t only us flying there — the fuckers were too. Do you think that if “Rubikon” had footage of them “tearing apart” our infantry, they wouldn’t have published it? Especially after Sternenko’s post. That footage doesn’t exist, because the people got out of the damaged equipment, which was then finished off by drones.

**You said there was fog. But sooner or later the fog clears. What happened next?**

The burned equipment was left standing, and we guided the guys out over the radio. Some were evacuated immediately, because one vehicle survived.

**Was it necessary to use armored vehicles? Was it worth it?**

Four pieces of equipment? If the people survived, then of course it was worth it.

**Was there no other option? Not armored vehicles?**

Well then, let’s do exactly like the Russians — on scooters.

**UGVs?**

What UGVs? Transport people on UGVs? Sit on a UGV and you’ll be driven through a kill zone at 5 kilometers per hour. I’d rather go on foot then.

When people say, “Let’s fight with drones,” — fine, we’re for it. But when there’s no infantryman on the position, then “DeepState draws the map not in our favor.”

**Were you able to carry out this rotation and evacuation?**

Yes, we were. Reinforcements arrived at the positions, the ammunition was delivered. The mission was accomplished. Perhaps not completely, because the enemy always has an answer to any of our plans. We could even do a flyover right now along the “lifeline” to Pokrovsk and see how much burned equipment is there — including from other brigades.

There are competent authorities who can check the details of this operation. But to publish all the details? The operation isn’t over yet, and society demands explanations from us. Are you kidding? We’re actually at war here. Should we also announce the details of the next operation?

What about taking ten people, training them for two months, and then telling them they need to go to the frontlines — would you try that?

**How do you manage working under these conditions?**

Like this — that’s how we work. We say that apart from us, no one will go. Either we lose our independence now, or we go to carry out the mission. I went the same way.

We have excellent people, excellent commanders. Yet society turns these commanders into “butchers,” and the people into “victims.” But they are heroes — I can’t say it any other way. Especially those who didn’t return from the battlefield. These are units that carry out the most difficult tasks. Do you think we don’t understand the responsibility the commanders take on?

I’m ready to go and meet with the mothers and relatives of all those who died on the battlefield. As many times as needed. Because it’s not my fault that people die. As a commander, I do everything possible to prevent their deaths. I gave them proper training — when a soldier wanted to drink beer, I made him run through an obstacle course so that he could survive in combat and reach the positions. Yes, I know I’ll be criticized for making him train. But we took responsibility yesterday. And today I stand before you because I am not guilty of anything.

And the commanders are not guilty of anything either. They are intimidated because they are called “butchers.” And then they issue orders for “kickbacks.” Unofficial, because I cannot prove it. How many people are ready to take responsibility? Not many. And then we lose more people and territory because we cannot complete our missions.

**Can we talk now about the fighters who died?**

Not yet. The operation is still ongoing (as of April 4 — ed.). But they were the best people. They went to defend Ukrainian land and the Ukrainian people. I feel for all of them; they will forever remain in formation.

**How does the regiment work with relatives? Because relatives in closed social media groups write a lot about “Skelya” being a “meat regiment.”**

We have a patronage service that specifically handles honoring fallen soldiers. But talking with relatives is very difficult.

I have comrades whose parents I still communicate with, and I still feel inner guilt. That’s why I cannot give up. They didn’t give their lives in vain. In memory of the fallen, we must see it through. It’s too late to talk about anything else.

That’s why I have no respect for draft dodgers — what respect could there be? They didn’t take up arms, didn’t carry the “three-hundred” [wounded] off the battlefield, didn’t gather their comrades in body bags. They don’t know our reality, yet they criticize.

**So you think this is a problem of two completely different worlds?**

It’s just a chasm. For a large number of people, the war is just numbers and statistics.

**Many people think that only assault troops serve with you. How did the technological component of “Skelya” develop? How is digitalization carried out?**

Quite successfully; digitalization was not difficult. Today, our military and the Commander-in-Chief give the opportunity to develop and do something for those who take responsibility. We take it.

We have technological and innovation departments with their own developments. We maintain complete analytics for every sortie. We have specialists who investigate every equipment loss, determining whether it was pilot error or a hardware issue. If it’s pilot error, instructors intervene remotely. If it’s an equipment problem, that is also addressed.

**There’s another important topic — supposedly “Skelya” has better provisions than other brigades because you are “Syrskyi’s regiment.” Shall we unpack this?**

Let’s unpack it. If there are four brigades in a sector and 20 aircraft, that’s five aircraft per brigade. But a brigade has 1,500 personnel in formation, and we have 10,000. And we get the same five aircraft. And right now our regiment is deployed across nine different directions. That’s a lot of people: we run 25 to 40 live feeds simultaneously, with two pilots per feed. We monitor the enemy around the clock.

**So when assault operations start, you monitor those too?**

Yes, of course. We also do photo flyovers for terrain mapping. All of that is applied to the map. The battalion commander who will be working there has the full layout of the area. We try to make the guys’ work as safe as possible.

Everyone working on unmanned systems is mobilized. They work without restraints, they aren’t pressured. Yes, there is discipline, and once a person adapts and starts understanding where we are going and what we want to achieve, they become ideologically committed. Personally, I want to build the most modern and combat-ready army in the world, and the commander and I are aligned on this.

We have to be civilized — among other things. But in the beginning, there are different kinds of people.

**Commanders of smaller units?**

That depends on the individual. Sometimes a mobilized guard gets lucky, something isn’t shared on the bus, and a fight breaks out. Of course, the guard takes the hit — they shouldn’t react like that. They’re already in uniform, with experience.

Who picks up people from the reserve battalion or from the TCC? Guys who have already been through combat and are “worn out” by the war. These people didn’t want to fight either; some were abandoned by their wives, some had families fall apart, some lost people.