Defiant POW killed in viral video is named Hero of Ukraine

By GMA Integrated News

Published March 13, 2023 2:54am

This handout photograph taken from a video grab and released by Ukrainian Presidential Press Service on March 7, 2023, shows detained Ukrainian combatant Oleksandr Matsiyevsky smoking a cigarette before being shot dead. Handout /Ukrainian Presidential Press Service/ AFP

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on Sunday (early Monday, Philippines time) said he has bestowed the title of "Hero of Ukraine" on a Ukrainian prisoner of war whose calmness in the face of death was captured on video by his killers, amid Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

"I conferred the title of Hero of Ukraine upon Oleksandr Matsiyevsky. A Ukrainian warrior. A man who will be known and remembered forever. For his bravery, for his confidence in Ukraine and for his 'Glory to Ukraine!' Glory to the Hero! Glory to the Heroes! Glory to Ukraine!" Zelenskiy said in a post on his Twitter account.

I conferred the title of Hero of Ukraine upon Oleksandr Matsiyevsky. A Ukrainian warrior. A man who will be known and remembered forever. For his bravery, for his confidence in Ukraine and for his "Glory to Ukraine!". Glory to the Hero! Glory to the Heroes! Glory to Ukraine! pic.twitter.com/uKUKIhCfMp
— ????????? ?????????? (@ZelenskyyUa) March 12, 2023

Ukraine vowed last week to take revenge against Russia, holding the Kremlin responsible for the death of the POW, seen being riddled with bullets in a viral video after speaking a pro-Ukrainian slogan.

The footage apparently shows the detained Ukrainian combatant standing in a shallow trench with a cigarette in his mouth, calmly saying "Slava Ukraini" (Glory to Ukraine) before being shot to death by multiple automatic weapons.

There was initially some uncertainty as to the soldier's identity. He was first identified as Timofey Shadura before Ukrainian authorities confirmed him to be Oleksandr Matsiyevsky. Shadura, meanwhile, is missing in action.

The @ServiceSsu has confirmed the identity of the Hero who was shot in cold blood after saying "Glory to Ukraine!". The investigators have established that the Ukrainian soldier who appeared in the horrific video was a sniper of the 119th Brigade @TDF_UA , Oleksandr Matsiyevsky. pic.twitter.com/FfnOlQwZjh
— Defense of Ukraine (@DefenceU) March 12, 2023

— BM, GMA News

Tags: ukraine, russia, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, news