One of the Ukrainians told Aleksandr Kulikov that the losses among the fighters of the regiment amounted to about 80%. According to Aleksandr Kulikov, this was why he was forced to sign a contract as soon as possible at the end of May.
The training was harsh, and Ukrainian instructors physically punished mercenaries who failed to perform a task. “I thought that there could not be such a thing in the Ukrainian army which associates itself with the Western one,” Aleksandr Kulikov said.
RFE/RL's Idel.Realities has identified 21 Russian soldiers who relatives believe were in the Ukrainian city of Makiyivka on January 1, when scores were killed by a rocket strike. The families have received no information from the military but cling to the hope that their loved ones survived.