An Irishman is thought to have died while fighting in Ukraine.
20-year-old Alex Ryzhuk was serving on the frontline with the Ukrainian Armed Forces and was reportedly hit by a Russian shell.
He is now officially missing and presumed dead.
In a statement to Newstalk, the Department of Foreign Affairs said they were “aware of the case” and are providing consular assistance to his family.
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Born in Ireland to Ukrainian parents, Mr Ryzhuk grew up on Dublin’s southside and was nicknamed ‘the Irishman’ by his comrades.
Speaking to a YouTuber earlier this year, Mr Ryzhuk said he was only 17 when Russia invaded and he had been “eager” to help Ukraine once he became an adult.
“I had an Irish passport and the first time I wanted to travel to Ukraine, [my parents] took away my passport,” he said.
“Then I applied for a new one and with a new passport I came over here.”
Mr Ryzhuk said he was still in touch with his parents and “quite often” with his Irish friends who “help me with a variety of stuff”.
Main image: Alex Ryzhuk. Image by: Butusov Plus.
