The head of a special forces unit involved in last week’s martial law enforcement said Monday his soldiers are victims used by former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun and vowed to take full responsibility over his unit’s actions.

Col. Kim Hyun-tae, head of the 707th Special Mission Group, made the accusation against Kim, as the prosecution has kicked off an investigation into the former minister on treason charges over President Yoon Suk Yeol’s short-lived martial law declaration.

“Troops of the 707th unit are the most unfortunate victims used by former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun,” Kim said in a press conference near the presidential office in central Seoul.

He said he would bear all legal responsibility, calling himself an “incompetent and irresponsible” commander and saying his troops were only at fault for following his orders.