The soldier’s relatives from Mykolaiv are calling for an investigation into his death at the training centre

The family of Ivan «Teren» Terentiev, a soldier from Mykolaiv who died a week after being mobilised, is requesting a second forensic medical examination, as they are convinced that his death was the result of violence.

The deceased’s sister, Olena, informed NikVesti of this situation, providing the relevant official documents.

The incident took place at the training centre of the 425th Separate Assault Regiment «Skala» in the Dnipropetrovsk region. Ivan Terentiev, aged 46, arrived at the training centre on 25 February, and the very next day he allegedly complained of feeling unwell, according to the family of the deceased.

Three days later, on 28 February, the soldier died. His family were informed of this a week later, on 7 March, and were provided with a document titled ‘notification of the death of a serviceman’.

The death report states that Ivan Terentyev «had no physical injuries and died in bed at the medical centre». However, the certificate of cause of death states that the soldier died of cardiomyopathy.

Photo of the certificate of cause of death, provided by the deceased’s family

Photo of the notification to the family of the deceased serviceman, provided by the family of the deceased

However, the relatives do not agree with this conclusion, as they claim there are signs of a violent death on the body.

«This is clearly a traumatic death. Half the body is blue. The collarbone and ribs are broken, the neck is twisted. There are marks from an IV drip on his left arm — we were told that he was being treated. His knees are scraped, as if he had been dragged. The situation is extremely mysterious,» says the deceased’s sister Olena in a report by «News in Brief».

The deceased’s sister Olena, screenshot

The soldier’s family also received photographs showing Ivan Terentiev lying dead in a tent.

«The ground is covered with black plastic sheeting. You can see the corner of the tent and a small window. The investigative team interviewed a medic who reported that the soldier, with the call sign «Teren», arrived at the training centre on 25 February. On the 26th, he complained of feeling unwell, and apparently he was on a drip in this tent for two days.

No one stays there for more than two weeks. I can’t even imagine what they do to them there. Missing without trace, pneumonia, cardiomyopathy. To lose a person in six days — what on earth is going on there?» said the woman.

The investigator looking into the soldier’s death, says his sister, decided to close the case as early as 13 March due to an alleged lack of signs of violent death, «without waiting for the full forensic medical examination».

However, on 18 March, the Dnipropetrovsk Regional Prosecutor’s Office reopened the case, overturning the investigator’s decision to close the criminal case.

«The medical death certificate contained in the criminal proceedings is not an expert opinion within the meaning of Article 101 of the Code of Criminal Procedure of Ukraine,» it states.

The family is currently seeking permission to conduct a repeat independent forensic medical examination.

As a reminder, the wife of Oleksandr Kuemzha, a serviceman from Mykolaiv, has alleged an attempt to conceal the circumstances of her husband’s death and is demanding a repeat forensic medical examination. To this end, she has approached the State Bureau of Investigations of Ukraine.