In a sobering reminder of the perils faced by foreign fighters in Ukraine, an Australian man lies in a Ukrainian hospital bed, gravely wounded by a landmine. The 38-year-old, whose name is being withheld, recounted the harrowing details of his ordeal in a statement shared by a Ukrainian-Australian man supporting him.
“I came within 15 metres of the enemy’s position where I started to move in for an assault,” the injured fighter said. “I stood on a mine.” What followed was an agonizing 20-hour evacuation, during which he received no first aid despite his devastating injuries. “Blown-apart foot, not bandaged. Snapped and shattered leg, no splint. Blown-apart hand, no bandage,” he described. Relying on a tourniquet to stem the bleeding, he had to release it every hour to prevent losing his arm.
Urgent Plea for Evacuation
Glenn Kolomeitz, a former Australian army officer and lawyer, is now pressuring Australian politicians to arrange an emergency evacuation for the wounded man. “This guy needs to get out there to a better hospital,” Kolomeitz urged. “He needs surgery very rapidly and the best way to do that is for Australia to casualty-evacuate him to Australia or another European nation.”
While praising Ukrainian medical facilities, Kolomeitz noted the immense strain of combat trauma cases that makes it challenging to provide timely, specialized treatment in all cases. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has been notified of the situation.
Warnings Against Travel to Ukraine
News of this soldier’s plight comes just a day after Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and other top officials cautioned Australians against traveling to Ukraine. Authorities are also working to verify reports of another Australian fighter, 32-year-old Oscar Jenkins, allegedly being captured by Russian forces.
“This isn’t some great adventure,” warned Nationals leader David Littleproud, recounting the anguish of returning the remains of Jed Danahay, a medic from his electorate killed while volunteering in Ukraine. “I never forget the look and the pain in his mother’s eyes when I handed back his ashes to her.”
Calls for Adherence to International Law
Acting foreign minister Mark Dreyfus emphasized Australia’s expectations for Russia to fully comply with its obligations under international humanitarian law, particularly regarding prisoners of war. He stated the government’s top priority is ascertaining Jenkins’ whereabouts and well-being while supporting his family.
As the fates of these two men underscore the immense risks undertaken by foreign volunteers in Ukraine, pressure mounts on the Australian government to take decisive action. For the grievously wounded fighter, each passing hour heightens the urgency for evacuation and specialized medical care beyond the war-ravaged nation’s strained capacities.
