Skelya Regiment dismisses connection to case against ex-155th Brigade commander Luchanov

Skelya said the events involving Luchanov and his subordinates now under investigation by law enforcement occurred while he was serving as commander of the 155th Separate Mechanized Brigade “Anna of Kyiv.”

"The 425th Separate Assault Regiment ‘Skelya’ has no relation whatsoever, either to the circumstances of this criminal case or to any decisions that may have been made within a different military unit," the statement said.

The regiment said Luchanov served as chief of staff of the 425th Separate Assault Regiment Skelya for "less than a year" before becoming commander of the 155th Separate Mechanized Brigade in February 2026.

"Criminal liability is always personal in nature and cannot be extended to military units in which a person served at different points in their career," Skelya said.

The regiment separately noted that it is currently undergoing a period of "deep transformation," acknowledging the need for change and beginning a systematic overhaul of its internal processes, management approaches and standards of service.

"Furthermore, Skelya firmly condemns crimes against civilians and distances itself from any criminal acts and those who commit them, regardless of where they previously served or what positions they held," the 425th Separate Assault Regiment said. “Violence, vigilantism, abuse of power and impunity are incompatible with military honor, Ukrainian law and the principles on which our regiment is built.”

The search for the 155th Brigade commander

Media outlets had earlier reported that Luchanov was wanted after his subordinates were detained on suspicion of kidnapping and killing two civilian men from Kyiv Oblast.

According to reports, seven people broke into the property of two brothers in Kyiv Oblast overnight into June 28 and took them away to an unknown location. According to sources cited by Dzerkalo Tyzhnia, investigators believe Luchanov's wife had been insulted by unknown individuals, after which the commander allegedly ordered eight of his subordinates to punish those responsible.

"They kidnapped two men — Maksym M. and Roman M., residents of the village of Kalynivka in Bila Tserkva district — took them to Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, and killed them," the outlet reported.

The Northern Operational Command confirmed reports that a search is underway for Stanislav Luchanov, commander of the 155th Mechanized Brigade, without naming him or providing details of the case involving soldiers from that brigade.

“We are currently determining the whereabouts of the commander of military unit A5001, who left his post without authorization,” the Northern Operational Command stated. “Details that can be disclosed without compromising the investigation will be provided by law enforcement agencies.”

On July 11, Luchanov — by then already removed from his command — was charged with unlawful deprivation of liberty and murder of two civilians in Kyiv Oblast, Ukraine's Military Law Enforcement Service reported.