Ukrainian International Legion reports death of 4 service members who fought for Ukraine against the Russian invasion

International Legion of Defense of Ukraine reported the death of four foreign service members who fought for Ukraine against the Russian occupiers.

Members of the International Legion from the Netherlands, Australia, Germany, and France were killed in the fighting: Ronald Vogelaar, Michael O'Neill, Björn Benjamin Clavis, and Wilfried Blériot.

"We would like to honor the memory of our brothers in arms… No words exist to express our gratitude for their service and ultimate sacrifice. These are the unsung heroes who came here to defend the values they believed in and stand up against tyranny. Their memory will live on in the International Legion, in the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and in the hearts of the Ukrainian people, who will forever be indebted to the defenders who left their lives behind and chose to fight for light over darkness, for life over death. They will not be forgotten," says the International Legion of Defense of Ukraine in the statement.

Dutch News reported that a 55-year-old volunteer from the Netherlands, Ronald Vogelaar, died on May 4 due to artillery shelling. This was announced by his daughter Marte.

"He never regretted the decision [to fight]. He was happy and felt like he was in the right place," wrote his daughter.

ABC reported the death of 47-year-old Australian Michael O'Neill in late May. According to media reports, O'Neill was involved in the delivery of supplies to the front line and assistance in transporting the wounded and dead. Sources familiar with the matter told hromadske that Michael was killed during an offensive near the village of Ternova in Kharkiv Oblast.

International Legion of Defense of Ukraine

On February 27, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky called on citizens of foreign countries who are friends of Ukraine to join the territorial defense forces. Volunteers formed a separate unit — the International Legion of Defense of Ukraine.

Politicians from a number of countries, including the United Kingdom and Lithuania, have expressed support for citizens who want to join the defense of Ukraine. The next day after Zelensky's statement, Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maliar said that the Defense Ministry had received several thousand applications from foreigners. In March, the Defense Ministry reported that International Legion includes representatives from 52 countries.

hromadske journalist met members of the Ukrainian Foreign Legion in a recently liberated village near Kharkiv to find out how the Legion operates after three months of Russian invasion: