“He was a warrior.”
A former Elite Irish Defence Forces member has died in combat in Ukraine.
The man, who has been identified as Robert Deegan, was killed in combat on Thursday while fighting for the Ukrainian army.
The Irish Mirror reports that Deegan, who was 29, was protecting his fellow soldiers from a Russian attack when he was killed.
Deegan, who was from Newbridge in Kildare, is believed to have been a member of the special forces squad known as the Stugna Unit.
It’s been reported that Deegan was formerly a member of the Defence Forces Army Ranger wing.
It’s believed that Deegan joined the Ukrainian’s at the start of the Russian invasion before being badly injured in 2022 and losing an eye.
He returned to Ireland for treatment before going back to Ukraine earlier this year.
Four other Irish men have died fighting in Ukraine since the war broke out.
Finbar Cafferkey, from Achill in Mayo, and Graham Dale, from Dublin, died while fighting Russian forces in Ukraine
Rory Mason of Meath also died while fighting for the International Legion of the Defence of Ukraine.
Alex Ryzhuk, who was born in Dublin to Ukrainian parents, travelled to Ukraine last year to join the army.
He was declared missing in action last month.
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