His execution made him a national hero. The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) on Sunday confirmed the identity of the soldier who was shot in a video after several official sources gave two different names.
“Investigators (SBU) have established that the Ukrainian soldier who was shot… was a sniper from the 163rd battalion of the 119th territorial defense brigade of the Chernihiv region, Oleksandr Igorovich Matsievskiy,” the investigators said. it’s a statement.
Prisoner in the Donetsk region
In the dozen-second video, broadcast abundantly in early March, we see a scarred man in military uniform but unarmed smoking a cigarette before exclaiming “Glory to Ukraine!” and being mowed down by bursts of machine gun fire.
The SBU’s announcement comes a few days after several official sources within the Ukrainian military gave two different identities, including that of Oleksandr Matsievskiï, keeping the confusion going.
According to the regional department of the “Northern” section of the Ukrainian armed forces, Oleksandr Matsievskiï, “born on May 10, 1980 in Moldova”, had been taken prisoner by the Russians while he was with four other Ukrainian soldiers in the eastern region. . from Donetsk.
In recent days, the mother of the deceased had declared in a television report, confirming her identity.
SBU investigators also say that they are sure of the identity of Oleksandr Matsievsky “after investigation”, “communication with relatives of the deceased”, “photo and video analysis” and also “the conclusions of the forensic medical examination”.
In his daily address, President Volodymyr Zelensky praised Sunday night “the bravery” of this Ukrainian soldier.
“Today I awarded the title of Hero of Ukraine to Oleksandr Matsievsky, to a soldier, to a person who will be well known to all Ukrainians. To a person who will be remembered forever,” he solemnly declared.
Source: BFM TV
