Shyriaiev Oleg Viktorovych

Call sign "Sirko"

Shyriaiev is a Ukrainian military and public figure, a major of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, commander of the 225th Separate Assault Regiment of the Ground Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. He was born on September 28, 1986, obtained an economic education, and until 2014 worked in the banking sector, simultaneously engaging in public activities in the organization "Patriot of Ukraine." With the beginning of Russian aggression, he became one of the founders and commander of the special company of the Ministry of Internal Affairs "Eastern Corps," participated in the Anti-Terrorist Operation, and later headed the Kharkiv branch of the "Azov Civil Corps" and was an adviser to the head of the Kharkiv Regional State Administration. During the full-scale invasion by the Russian Federation, he proved himself as an effective combat commander: his unit took part in the defense of Kharkiv, battles near Bakhmut, Chasiv Yar, and in breaking through echeloned defenses during the operation in the Kursk region, for which in 2024 Shyriaiev was awarded the title Hero of Ukraine.

Will War Erase Everything?

Despite significant combat merits, Oleg Shyriaiev’s figure was for a long time associated with high-profile criminal proceedings and political scandals before the full-scale war began, and later — with internal military investigations. In 2018 and 2021, he was detained and arrested on suspicion of organizing a mass brawl involving gunfire and an attempted raider seizure of an elevator in the village of Zanky, Kharkiv region, and the Security Service of Ukraine also brought additional charges of hooliganism against him. Public resonance was also caused by his activities in 2020 as a curator of the forceful wing of the pro-Russian organization "Patriots — For Life," affiliated with People's Deputy Illia Kyva. He was released from custody in March 2022 under a special initiative for the defense of the state. Already in the summer of 2026, his name reappeared in the media in connection with a high-profile journalistic investigation by the publication "Texty" concerning systemic violations, torture, and non-statutory relations within the 225th Separate Assault Regiment subordinated to him, following which the Ground Forces Command and Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi initiated a comprehensive inspection of the unit.