Ukrainian foreign legion troops accuse commanders of corruption

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Fighters in Ukraine’s foreign legion say Western-supplied weapons are being stolen by corrupt commanders who are also bullying their subordinates and abusing their power to dismiss anyone who questions them on trumped-up charges.

Sasha Kapuscinski, a Polish gangster-turned-officer now in charge of operations for one of the two branches of the foreign legion is singled out for particular criticism in a wide-ranging investigation by the Kyiv Independent.

Kapuscinski is accused of ‘acting like a Mafia boss’ by stealing weapons including US rifles and anti-tank launchers in order to sell them – sometimes back to his own men – as well as sexually harassing a female recruit, and of pointing a loaded gun at one  man who defied him.

Soldiers say his superior officers, an uncle and nephew both called Taras Vashuk, acted to protect him and sometimes joined the abuse. A lieutenant-colonel named only as Bohdan and one of his subordinates, Nikolay Bakaliuk, are also accused.

Reporters say there is no suggestion of wide-ranging theft of advanced Western weapons as Russian propagandists have claimed, but that dozens – maybe hundreds – of recruits have quit the foreign legion after authorities failed to investigate.

A lieutenant-colonel named only as Bohdan was allegedly caught on camera threatening soldiers under his command

A lieutenant-colonel named only as Bohdan was allegedly caught on camera threatening soldiers under his command 

Sasha Kapuscinski, a Polish gangster-turned-officer (circled), is among foreign legion commanders accused of theft, abuse and bullying of his subordinates

Sasha Kapuscinski, a Polish gangster-turned-officer (circled), is among foreign legion commanders accused of theft, abuse and bullying of his subordinates

Sasha Kapuscinski, a Polish gangster-turned-officer (circled), is among foreign legion commanders accused of theft, abuse and bullying of his subordinates

Soldiers who spoke out anonymously say this is undermining the war effort and have called for urgent action so no more manpower or materiel is wasted.

Investigators say it has not been possible to work out who the allegedly stolen weapons were sold to or where they ended up, but added there is no evidence they have left the country.

The probe began over the summer when the newspaper was approached by several dozen current and former members of one branch of the foreign legion – set up by Kyiv to admit fighters from overseas – who complained of poor treatment.

It has since expanded to cover both branches, run separately by Ukraine’s military intelligence and ground forces, with soldiers saying they contacted journalists as a last resort after complaints to the military, police, and politicians were ignored.

Most of the complaints focus on Kapuscinski, a Pole who was a known member of the Pruszkow gang in the early 2000s and has served time in jail in his home country for crimes including robbery, kidnapping for ransom, drugs and stabbing. 

He left Poland – where he is still wanted for fraud – and came to Ukraine, where he was accused of aggravated robbery in 2016 and illegal arms possession in 2021 before joining the military in February as Putin invaded.

Poland still wants him to be deported but Kyiv has refused to hand him over, and has paused investigations against him in Ukraine while he serves the military. 

Kapuscinski is now in charge of operations for the branch of the foreign legion run by military intelligence, including managing the armoury and logistics.

Those who have served with him told investigators that weapons delivered to armouries under his control – including several hundred rifle bayonets and a similar number of pistols – had a ‘bad habit’ of disappearing.

Others said they were ordered to load rifles into civilian vehicles under his direction – where they also saw NLAW tubes and Javelin canisters – before they were driven away and never seen again.

Soldiers also accused Kapuscinski of spuriously confiscating their personal equipment including ammunition, drones, holsters or helmets they purchased themselves or were sent by private overseas donors in order to sell them.

Fighters allege that dozens of western rifles, anti-tank launchers, pistols, grenades and ammunition went missing from bases under the command of corrupt officers (file image)

Fighters allege that dozens of western rifles, anti-tank launchers, pistols, grenades and ammunition went missing from bases under the command of corrupt officers (file image)

Fighters allege that dozens of western rifles, anti-tank launchers, pistols, grenades and ammunition went missing from bases under the command of corrupt officers (file image)

In one case, a unit received a shipment of thermal imagining gear that was allegedly taken by Kapuscinski who then tried to sell it back to his own men at $300 a piece.

One recruit said this behaviour was common knowledge, and referred to by the men as the ‘Sasha tax.’

Soldiers also complained that Kapuscinski would often send them on suicide missions, instruct them to loot buildings, or give nonsensical orders.

While many complied out of fear, some resisted and faced abuse, summary dismissals and – on one occasion – was allegedly threatened with a loaded gun.

An American-Jewish recruit, who said Kapuscinski used anti-Semitic language towards him, accused him of pointing a weapon at him when he refused to hand over a share of equipment he had purchased for his squad-mates.

Nadim Khmaladze, a Georgian soldier who quit the legion after being sent on what he considered to be a suicide mission, said Major Vashuk – Kapuscinski’s superior – also pointed a loaded weapon at him when he refused to hand over his gear.

Another who complained said Kapuscinski dragged him out of hospital while he was being treated for a broken neck, put him on an 18-hour train to Lviv in agonising pain, and dismissed him for being a deserter.

A female soldier said Kapuscinski forced her to sit on his lap, tried to kiss her, and would catcall women in the street.

Meanwhile Bohdan, who worked for the other branch of the foreign legion under control of the Ukrainian ground forces, was also accused of stealing weapons and abusing men under his command.

Troops said he was prone to violent mood swings, especially when confronted over ‘suicide missions’ he sometimes sent recruits on.

In one video obtained by the Kyiv Independent, Bohdan can be heard telling a recruit: One more word, one more movement. You will be f***ing destroyed.’

Bohdan allegedly threatened to have the man sent to jail in Ukraine, where he claimed to have contacts who would ensure him a ‘good time’.

After months of complaints, Bohdan was moved from command of one unit to another – still within the foreign legion – after which superiors decided to audit his old armoury to check if anything was missing.

Troops say the corruption is not widespread and does not involve advanced Western weapons systems, but is harming the effectiveness of the foreign legion (file image)

Troops say the corruption is not widespread and does not involve advanced Western weapons systems, but is harming the effectiveness of the foreign legion (file image)

Troops say the corruption is not widespread and does not involve advanced Western weapons systems, but is harming the effectiveness of the foreign legion (file image)

They found 54 US-made M4 carbines, several anti-tank weapons like RPGs and NLAWs, grenades, pistols, and a few thousand rounds of ammunition were missing.

Suspicion also fell on Nikolay Bakaliuk, one of Bohdan’s subordinates, who was in de-facto control of the armoury at the time.

Complaints accuse Bakaliuk of corruption, theft of equipment, and bullying.

None of the missing weapons have been recovered, with Ukrainian officials saying it is very hard to track small-arms once they make it down to unit level because they can easily be written off as destroyed or lost to the enemy. 

An official investigation has now been opened into Kapuscinski by the Luhansk Specialized Military and Defense Prosecutor’s Office, on claims of abuse of power.

He has not yet been named as a suspect, but faces up to 12 years in jail if he is charged and subsequently found guilty.

Bohdan is not facing investigation, but members of the legion say he has reformed his behaviour since being relieved of his earlier command.

He gave detailed denials to the Independent of all of the allegations against him.

Bohdan said his superiors are also ‘looking into’ claims against Bakaliuk, but no official probe has yet been launched. Bakaliuk has also denied the allegations.

While evidence of corruption, brutality and incompetence within the Russian army is widespread, it is rare to get such an insight into Ukraine’s ranks.

Those soldiers who did complain made it clear that such problems are not widespread and are limited to individual commanders or units, but that they none-the-less exist.

One solider said: ‘It dishonours the Ukrainian army. It dishonours the Legion as a whole. And I find it extremely frustrating.’