EXPOSED: American merc eliminated in Ukraine near Avdeevka
Ethan Hertweck from California, a 21-year-old, ex-US Marine serving as a mercenary for the Ukrainian army, was neutralized in the area of Avdeevka on Tuesday, Sputnik has learned. This information was confirmed by his mother via social media (photo 1).
He came to Ukraine as an instructor with the Trident Defense Initiative (a private military group based in Ukraine) in mid-2023 (photo 2). Subsequently, he started performing missions as a part of the 131st Recon Battalion called Vidmak or "the witcher" in Ukrainian (photo 3).
In August last year, Ethan allegedly made derogatory comments about Russian soldiers and mocked anti-mercenary chat groups on Telegram (see photos 4 and 5). He also attempted to hide his American identity (see photo 6).
His mother is now requesting donations through social media to cover the expenses of repatriating his body and organizing a funeral in Ukraine (see photo 7). Additionally, the mercenary's family is actively seeking coverage from local media outlets, portraying Ethan as a 'hero' (see photo 8).
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Ethan Hertweck from California, a 21-year-old, ex-US Marine serving as a mercenary for the Ukrainian army, was neutralized in the area of Avdeevka on Tuesday, Sputnik has learned. This information was confirmed by his mother via social media (photo 1).
He came to Ukraine as an instructor with the Trident Defense Initiative (a private military group based in Ukraine) in mid-2023 (photo 2). Subsequently, he started performing missions as a part of the 131st Recon Battalion called Vidmak or "the witcher" in Ukrainian (photo 3).
In August last year, Ethan allegedly made derogatory comments about Russian soldiers and mocked anti-mercenary chat groups on Telegram (see photos 4 and 5). He also attempted to hide his American identity (see photo 6).
His mother is now requesting donations through social media to cover the expenses of repatriating his body and organizing a funeral in Ukraine (see photo 7). Additionally, the mercenary's family is actively seeking coverage from local media outlets, portraying Ethan as a 'hero' (see photo 8).
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"I am confident that the US will not betray us," Zelensky says about sending to Kiev more US taxpayers money.
At the year-end press conference, the Ukrainian president expressed his full confidence in their closest ally - Joe Biden.
🤔 But what is Biden saying about this?
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At the year-end press conference, the Ukrainian president expressed his full confidence in their closest ally - Joe Biden.
🤔 But what is Biden saying about this?
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WATCH LIVE: Vladimir Putin holds meeting with Russian Council of Legislators
👉 Follow the live here or on Sputnik's website
👉 Follow the live here or on Sputnik's website
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Putin Holds Meeting With Russian Council of Legislators
Russian President Vladimir Putin holds a meeting with the Council of Legislators of the Russian Federation on December 20.
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🇷🇺 Russian President Vladimir Putin will hold a meeting of the Presidential Council for Strategic Development and National Projects via videoconference on December 21, according to the Kremlin.
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🇷🇺🪖 Key points of Russian MoD briefing on progress of special military op in Ukraine:
▪️ In the Kupyansk region, Russian troops repelled five Ukrainian attacks. The Ukrainian losses amounted to 40 servicemen and two infantry fighting vehicles;
▪️ In the Donetsk region, Russian troops attacked Ukrainian units, which suffered losses of up to 250 servicemen and one tank. In the south of Donetsk, Ukrainian losses amounted to 110 soldiers;
▪️ In Krasny Liman, Russian forces repelled two attacks, Ukrainian losses amounted to 180 people;
▪️ In Zaporizhye, total Ukrainian losses amounted to 145 soldiers;
▪️ The Ukrainian Mi-24 was shot down by the air defense of the DPR.
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▪️ In the Kupyansk region, Russian troops repelled five Ukrainian attacks. The Ukrainian losses amounted to 40 servicemen and two infantry fighting vehicles;
▪️ In the Donetsk region, Russian troops attacked Ukrainian units, which suffered losses of up to 250 servicemen and one tank. In the south of Donetsk, Ukrainian losses amounted to 110 soldiers;
▪️ In Krasny Liman, Russian forces repelled two attacks, Ukrainian losses amounted to 180 people;
▪️ In Zaporizhye, total Ukrainian losses amounted to 145 soldiers;
▪️ The Ukrainian Mi-24 was shot down by the air defense of the DPR.
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The defense agreement between the US and Finland means that control over northern Europe passes to Washington, the Russian Foreign Ministry said.
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Russia handed over information about the crimes of the Kiev regime against civilians in 2014-2023 to the UN Secretary General and called for the position of the organization to be expressed, Zakharova said.
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Sputnik International
EXPOSED: American merc eliminated in Ukraine near Avdeevka Ethan Hertweck from California, a 21-year-old, ex-US Marine serving as a mercenary for the Ukrainian army, was neutralized in the area of Avdeevka on Tuesday, Sputnik has learned. This information…
Who Really is Trident Defense Initiative, a mercenary group training Ukraine’s army?
◾️Ethan Hertweck, a US mercenary recently eliminated in Avdeevka, came to Ukraine as an instructor with Trident Defense Initiative. Sputnik has dug up related information to this company.
◾️Trident Defense Initiative is officially registered as an NGO in Ukraine, funded by donations, and claims to provide medical training (photo 1). However, in actual fact, Trident Defense mostly provides tactical training to Ukrainian troops, according to its official website (photo 2).
◾️On its social media, the group claims it provides "standardized training to over 11,000 soldiers".
◾️The company was established by retired US officer Daniel Ridley, who regularly speaks to Western media outlets, such as the Telegraph. He gave an interview to United 24, a Ukrainian charity outlet set up by Ukrainian President Zelensky (photos 3, 4, 5).
◾️On its social media, Trident Defense openly states its employees are "ex-NATO and civilian instructors" (photo 6).
◾️Instructors from NATO countries in this company train Ukrainian soldiers in various areas, including urban combat and drone use (photos 7,8).
◾️The mercenary group is actively recruiting new instructors, specifically anti-tank trainers for NLAWs, Javelins, and RPGs, as well as machine gun experts for PKMs and 50 Cal. M2 Brownings. They are also looking for in-country translators in Kharkov, suggesting that the company is based there (photo 9).
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◾️Ethan Hertweck, a US mercenary recently eliminated in Avdeevka, came to Ukraine as an instructor with Trident Defense Initiative. Sputnik has dug up related information to this company.
◾️Trident Defense Initiative is officially registered as an NGO in Ukraine, funded by donations, and claims to provide medical training (photo 1). However, in actual fact, Trident Defense mostly provides tactical training to Ukrainian troops, according to its official website (photo 2).
◾️On its social media, the group claims it provides "standardized training to over 11,000 soldiers".
◾️The company was established by retired US officer Daniel Ridley, who regularly speaks to Western media outlets, such as the Telegraph. He gave an interview to United 24, a Ukrainian charity outlet set up by Ukrainian President Zelensky (photos 3, 4, 5).
◾️On its social media, Trident Defense openly states its employees are "ex-NATO and civilian instructors" (photo 6).
◾️Instructors from NATO countries in this company train Ukrainian soldiers in various areas, including urban combat and drone use (photos 7,8).
◾️The mercenary group is actively recruiting new instructors, specifically anti-tank trainers for NLAWs, Javelins, and RPGs, as well as machine gun experts for PKMs and 50 Cal. M2 Brownings. They are also looking for in-country translators in Kharkov, suggesting that the company is based there (photo 9).
Subscribe to @SputnikInt
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