"Glory to Ukraine!" Soldier Executed by Firing Squad... 42-Year-Old Sniper

Four Soldiers Captured by Russia in Donetsk
12-Second Video Spreads Worldwide, Sparking Controversy

Ukraine has revealed the identity of its soldier shown in a video of a war prisoner execution that spread online last week.

On the 12th (local time), according to AFP, the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) announced that the soldier executed in the video is sniper Oleksandr Ihorovych Machyeyusky (42), belonging to the 163rd Battalion of the Territorial Defense Brigade in the northeastern Chernihiv region of Ukraine.

The SBU stated, "The identity was confirmed through conversations with relatives, analysis of photos and videos, and forensic examinations."

The last appearance of Oleksandr Ihorovych Machiyevskyi (42) [Photo by AFP·Yonhap News]

Earlier, on social networking services (SNS), a video circulated showing an unarmed soldier standing in a shallow trench, smoking a cigarette, uttering the final words "Glory to Ukraine," and then being shot by Russian forces. This phrase is Ukraine's official salute slogan, established during the Ukrainian War of Independence and still used today.

The 12-second video sparked global outrage. Ukraine condemned the Russian military for committing war crimes by killing a prisoner of war. However, controversy arose as the authenticity of the video was not confirmed. There were also conflicting statements regarding the identity of the executed soldier.

In particular, Machyeyusky's mother told local media that the person in the video was her son, but the Ukrainian military stated that the person in the video was someone else, causing confusion.

It was later confirmed that the soldier in the video was Machyeyusky, a Ukrainian sniper originally from Moldova. Machyeyusky was reportedly captured by Russian forces along with four other Ukrainian soldiers in the Donetsk region.

Machyeyusky's mother said, "My son was always incredibly brave," adding, "The salute slogan was probably the only weapon he had to defend himself at that moment."

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced in a speech that Machyeyusky would be awarded the title of 'Hero of Ukraine.' President Zelenskyy emphasized, "(Machyeyusky is) a soldier and a citizen who will be remembered forever by Ukrainians."

Meanwhile, AFP reported that the SBU is also focusing on identifying the Russian soldiers who executed the prisoner.