I am ready to fight for Ukraine even in position of ordinary soldier to preserve my honor - General Halushkin
The former commander of the Kharkiv operational and tactical group, Yurii Halushkin, believes that the current trials may affect the resolve of other commanders at the front.
His appeal was made public by lawyer Mykhailo Velychko, Censor.NET reports.
"Commanders of all levels, like me in my time, are doing everything possible to win. However, the ongoing trials may affect their determination and actions. We have no right to undermine the credibility of our military, as it could cost us dearly," the letter reads.
Halushkin emphasized that during his service, he and his comrades managed to transform 6,000 TDFs scattered across recruitment centers into 32 brigades with 115,000 soldiers.
"People stood in line with only sports shoes and joined the battle. No one read the military regulations or took into account their requirements. And now I'm being accused of having a brigade that exceeded the norm. If the General Staff in Ukraine does not have enough brigades and weapons to comply with the norms, then it is not the commanders' fault. ...
"Regardless of how and when the investigation and trial conclude, I declare: I am honored and ready, even holding the rank of brigadier general but serving as an ordinary soldier, to fight for Ukraine. If, despite my health condition, I can eliminate even one more occupier, it will bring more benefit to the state than a trial or my arrest. This will allow me to preserve my honor," the former commander concluded.
The case regarding insufficient defense of the Kharkiv region in May 2024
As a reminder, on January 20, the SBI detained two generals and a colonel suspected of negligence that led to the loss of part of the Kharkiv region in May 2024.
The 125th TDF Brigade, whose Brigade Сommander was Horbenko in 2024, expressed support for him and expressed a desire to tell the truth in court about the events of that time in the Kharkiv region.
On January 21, Yurii Halushkin, a former commander of the OTG "Kharkiv" accused in the same case, was arrested for 60 days with bail set at UAH 5 million. On January 22, 5 million hryvnias bail was posted for Brigadier General Yurii Halushkin.
On January 22, 5 million hryvnias bail was posted for Brigadier General Yurii Halushkin
Subsequently, SBI officers, in cooperation with the SSU, re-detained Halushkin, who was to be released on bail of UAH 5 million. The Bureau reported new facts in the case of the border breach in Kharkiv region.
Also on January 21, Kyiv's Pecherskyi District Court arrested Colonel Illia Lapin, former commander of the 415th Separate Rifle Battalion of the 23rd Separate Mechanized Brigade, for 60 days.
Read more about the situation with the detention of military commanders in the article by Censor.NET Editor-in-Chief Yurii Butusov.
