The only known American fighting for Ukraine against Russian-backed insurgents was killed in action this week.
Manhattan native and 55-year-old investment banker Mark Gregory Paslawsky died Tuesday from wounds suffered in combat in the city of Ilovaysk, Vice magazine reported.
“He had three wounds in his back,” Ukrainian photographer Maxim Dondyuk told the mag.
“He was saying that he was in pain and that he didn’t want to die. People were telling him he was going to be OK. I think it might have been possible to save him if we had medevac helicopters or ambulances, but all there was on hand were the battalion medics.”
The West Point grad and former Army Ranger said government forces are working at a huge disadvantage — without the same equipment that Russian-backed separatists have.
In an interview earlier this month, Paslawsky said about three-quarters of his unit had never served in the military before. So getting them up to speed in the profession of being a soldier has been difficult.
“Before we get to kill the terrorists, you got to learn to be a soldier,” Paslawsky said. “I think that’s been the most difficult thing for them.”
Even though he was born and raised in the United States, Paslawsky said he was granted citizenship by Kiev due to his Ukrainian lineage.