US volunteer fighter killed in Ukraine, Wagner chief says
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Founder of Wagner private mercenary group Yevgeny Prigozhin said the body of the American volunteer killed while fighting alongside Ukrainian troops would be returned to the US.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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MOSCOW – The head of Russia’s private Wagner mercenary group on Tuesday said a United States volunteer had died fighting alongside Ukrainian troops in the country’s east.
In a video shared by Russian military bloggers, Mr Yevgeny Prigozhin showed the body of what he said was an American lying in the rubble of a building.
The clip shows the Wagner chief walking with his men at night, and explosions can be heard – but it is not clear where or when it was filmed.
Standing beside the body, which appears to have suffered a stomach wound, Mr Prigozhin said: “He came to meet us. Citizen of the United States of America”.
He shows the camera what appears to be the soldier’s identity documents, without giving a full name.
“We will return him to the US. We will put him in a coffin (with) the American flag. With respect, because he didn’t die in a grandfather’s bed but in the war,” the Wagner boss said.
Mr Prigozhin’s paramilitary group is fighting on the front line in the bloody battle for Bakhmut,
AFP could not independently verify Mr Prigozhin’s claims. AFP
