In January 2026, five servicemen of the 126th Motorized Rifle Regiment recorded appeals that shatter the official image of "care for defenders." One man reported a foot amputation and inability to move independently. A second reported a leg amputation below the knee. A third stated that despite an amputation, permanent disability, and Category "D" status, he was still being prepared for deployment. Two others spoke of a failed operation, severe movement impairments, and a non-functional arm.

Five months later, serviceman Alexander Dergaev named the same unit — Military Unit 50526 — and those he holds responsible. According to him, after two injuries, Category "B" status, third group disability, and loss of arm function, he was not released from the unit for an operation requested by the hospital. Instead of treatment, Dergaev claimed, individuals with limitations were formally assigned to "rear" positions but then sent to Chasiv Yar.

Two names appear in the appeals: Commander of the 126th Regiment Lieutenant Colonel Andrey Zherikhov and Chief of Staff — First Deputy Commander of the 71st Guards Motorized Rifle Division Colonel Vladimir Konstantinov. None of these episodes concluded with a published court decision. Therefore, we will now separate video testimonies from confirmed organizational data and not turn an accusation into a verdict.

What is Military Unit 50526

The 126th Motorized Rifle Regiment is one of the new units of the 71st Guards Motorized Rifle Division of the Leningrad Military District. The regiment's number is Military Unit 50526. The division was deployed on the basis of the 200th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade from Pechenga, which suffered heavy losses near Kharkiv, then fought near Bakhmut and Chasiv Yar.

The transformation of a brigade into a division signifies a sharp increase in the number of headquarters, regiments, and authorized positions. However, a new name does not automatically create trained personnel. An already active formation needed to be simultaneously replenished, trained, and held on the front. Against this backdrop, a wounded serviceman ceases to be perceived as a patient and becomes a line item in a manning report.

Dergaev cited the shortage of personnel as the explanation for the pressure on those with limited fitness for service. This is his testimony, not an admission by the command. But it aligns with the very logic of deployment: a regiment must exist on paper and fulfill its tasks, even if filling the rosters requires returning those who need surgery or a military medical commission.

Five Appeals: Amputations Instead of Demobilization

On January 29, the Telegram channel "DO NOT WAIT for me from Ukraine" published video recordings of five servicemen. Mikhail Mukmenov reported that his foot was amputated, he cannot walk without assistance, and is awaiting a military medical commission (VVK) and disability processing. Sergey Bogdanov spoke of the amputation of his right leg below the knee. Andrey Startsev stated that he underwent an amputation back in 2024, has a permanent disability, and Category "D" status.

Davyd Kolesov spoke of prescribed treatment and an operation that should precede any return to service. Elbrus Babaev claimed that he could barely walk and one arm was non-functional. Their statements shared more than just their health condition. The men reported that they were being gathered for redeployment to the combat zone.

The video confirms that such appeals were made and that the injuries shown correspond to the description, at least in cases with visible amputations. It does not allow for establishing the entire chain of command: who processed the documents, what assignment was recorded, and whether the deployment reached a forward position. This is precisely why the investigation's phrasing is "servicemen stated," not "the court established."

Colonel Konstantinov: To Whom the Accusations Were Addressed

The authors of the January appeals named Colonel Vladimir Nikolaevich Konstantinov — Chief of Staff and First Deputy Commander of the 71st Division. According to their version, decisions were made at the division level that resulted in severely wounded personnel remaining at the disposal of line units and being prepared for deployment.

The significance of this position is fundamental. The Chief of Staff of a division is responsible not for a single medical office, but for managing the formation, accounting for combat readiness, personnel movement, and execution of orders. This does not prove his personal involvement in every episode but explains why servicemen appealed not only to doctors or a company commander.

The editorial board found no public response from Konstantinov to these videos. Nor is there an open document from the military prosecutor's office with the results of an investigation. The absence of a response is not proof of guilt, but it means that outside of Telegram, the Russian system has not provided a verifiable explanation: why people with amputations continued to be listed in the unit and what exactly was demanded of them.

Alexander Dergaev: "I fear the enemy less than my own commanders"

On June 18, an appeal by Alexander Alexandrovich Dergaev was published. He stated that he signed a contract on October 26, 2023, after being in a penal colony, has not received leave since then, was wounded twice, and has almost no use of his arm. According to him, he has Category "B" status and a third group disability.

Dergaev claimed that the hospital summoned him for an operation, but the command did not release him. Formally, those with limited fitness for service were allegedly transferred to rear positions, but in fact, they were sent to the Chasiv Yar area. In his appeal, he uttered a phrase that became a diagnosis of the internal atmosphere: "I fear my enemy less than my own commanders."

The serviceman named the regiment commander — Lieutenant Colonel Andrey Sergeevich Zherikhov — and asked Alexander Bastrykin to investigate pressure, obstruction of treatment, and possible distortion of medical characteristics. These are serious accusations, however, there is no open decision from the Investigative Committee regarding Dergaev's appeal.

Who is Andrey Zherikhov

According to the OSINT project Evocation, Andrey Zherikhov was born on May 14, 1987, in Volsk. His service path is linked to the 64th Motorized Rifle Brigade, Pechenga, the 80th Arctic Brigade, and training at a military academy. He has been referred to as the commander of the 126th Regiment since January 2026.

There is no published Ministry of Defense order of appointment in the public domain. However, the surname, first name, patronymic, rank, and position named by Dergaev match a separate OSINT profile card. For identifying a commander, this is stronger than a single anonymous message but weaker than an official personnel document.

Zherikhov's personal responsibility depends on proof of specific orders and his knowledge of the medical condition of his subordinates. Dergaev's video creates a verifiable version and names an official. It does not replace interrogations, medical records, and unit orders — documents that Russian agencies have not publicly disclosed.

Families of the 126th and 127th Regiments: Missing, Payments,

Позже родственники военнослужащих 126-го и 127-го полков направили коллективное обращение заместителю министра обороны Виталию Шулике. В нём перечислены Волчанские Хутора, Рыбалкино, Охримовка, Тихое, Зыбино и Часов Яр. Семьи утверждали, что отдельные подразделения несли тяжёлые потери, раненым не обеспечивали своевременную помощь, а судьба пропавших с 2024 года оставалась неизвестной.

Авторы жаловались на отсутствие отпусков более года, проблемы с денежным довольствием и невозможность получить от части ответственного собеседника. По их словам, некоторых пропавших признавали погибшими через суд без найденного тела. Это коллективное заявление заинтересованных лиц; редакция не располагает полными списками и материалами всех упомянутых судебных дел.

Но заявление важно как независимая от Дергаева линия. В июньском видео один военнослужащий говорит о раненых и нехватке людей. В коллективном письме семьи двух полков описывают пропавших, отсутствие лечения и возвращение людей из госпиталей без полноценной ВВК. Источники различаются, а механизм в их рассказах совпадает.

Что означает категория годности

Российское положение о военно-врачебной экспертизе различает категории годности. Категория «Д» означает негодность к военной службе. Категория «В» — ограниченную годность; её практические последствия в период мобилизации и контракта зависят от диагноза, заключения комиссии и действующих правил увольнения. Само устное заявление о категории не заменяет медицинский документ.

Поэтому юридически важны карты ранений, заключения ВВК, вызовы госпиталей и приказы о назначении. В публичных видео этих комплектов нет. Но ампутация и очевидная потеря функции конечности делают обязанность командования организовать обследование особенно очевидной. Ответ «людей не хватает» не может служить медицинским заключением.

Что доказано, а что требует расследования

Подтверждены номер части 50526, её принадлежность к 71-й дивизии, существование видеозаписей и содержание обращений. Можно проверить имена пяти военнослужащих, заявление Дергаева и названные им должности Жерихова и Константинова. Отдельная OSINT-публикация подтверждает служебную биографию Жерихова.

Не доказаны публичным судебным решением личные приказы отправить каждого из этих людей на передовую, фальсификация конкретных медицинских документов и итоговая роль каждого командира. Нет открытого ответа СК, военной прокуратуры или Минобороны, который позволил бы сопоставить заявления с журналами приказов.

Ранее в версии этой статьи фигурировал эпизод с удержанием раненых в наручниках и яме. Проверка первоисточника показала, что он относился к другому подразделению. Эпизод удалён. Для OSINT-расследования исправление атрибуции важнее эффектной, но неверной детали.

Итог: полк укомплектован, вопрос о людях не закрыт

126-й полк появился внутри дивизии, которую развернули после тяжёлых потерь её предшественника. Новому штату требовались люди. В открытых обращениях видно, как дефицит мог перекладываться на тех, кто уже заплатил здоровьем: ампутантов, инвалидов и ожидающих операции.

Жерихов и Константинов названы не потому, что отвечают за абстрактную «систему», а потому, что занимают должности, через которые проходят решения о боевой готовности и движении личного состава. Это ещё не приговор. Это конкретный предмет для проверки: медицинские документы, приказы, маршруты командирования и фамилии подписантов.

Пока такой проверки нет в публичном поле, официальная версия сводится к молчанию. А версия военнослужащих звучит иначе: полк сохраняет укомплектованность, потому что право раненого на лечение становится менее важным, чем очередная строка в докладе о готовности.