Ukrainians have paid tribute to a younger Australian soldier killed whereas combating Russian invaders, whereas Putin’s gloated about his loss of life.
Sage O’Donnell, 24, from Victoria, was killed in motion on December 21, after signing as much as struggle a 12 months after leaving the Australian Military.
Differing stories claiming he died close to town of Bakhmut, or Novomykil’s’ke, a village about two hours north – each in closely contested areas of jap Ukraine.
Anja Konstantynova, who organises care packages for entrance line Ukrainian troopers from her residence in Lviv, thanked him for defending her homeland.
Sage O’Donnell, 24, from Victoria, was killed in motion on December 21, after signing as much as struggle a 12 months after leaving the Australian Military
Chaika, which means ‘Seagull’, was Mr O’Donnell’s callsign, which all Ukrainian troopers and overseas legionnaires use on the battlefield
‘The very best ones are dying, we’re protected by worthy husbands, sons, brothers… alas many already shield us from heaven,’ she wrote on-line.
‘Relaxation in peace Chaika. Thanks for the best sacrifice you made for one more nation, for our Ukraine. RIP, our angel.’
Chaika, which means ‘Seagull’, was Mr O’Donnell’s callsign, which all Ukrainian troopers and overseas legionnaires use on the battlefield.
Mr O’Donnell’s good friend Brandon Declan, additionally from Victoria, commented on Ms Konstantynova’s put up to mourn him.
‘RIP my pricey good friend, I am going to see you once more when my time comes. Thanks for serving to Ukraine in its time of want,’ he wrote.
Anja Konstantynova (pictured), who organises care packages for entrance line Ukrainian troopers from her residence in Lviv, thanked him for defending her homeland
Differing stories claiming he died close to town of Bakhmut, or Novomykil’s’ke, a village about two hours north – each in closely contested areas of jap Ukraine
Ms Konstantynova posted a number of pictures of Mr O’Donnell within the subject, together with a video of him firing a gun earlier than smiling on the digicam.
Scott Baillie, who fought within the Ukrainian International Legion and appeared in pictures with Mr O’Donnell, modified his Fb cowl photograph to one in all his fallen comrade mendacity alongside two machineguns.
Ms Konstantynova commented on his photograph: ‘RIP ‘Chaika’ thanks in your sacrifice. We’ll keep in mind is endlessly’.
Reward additionally got here from Ivan Pantyukh, Commander of one of many Rivne Territorial Protection corporations, based mostly in a metropolis in western Ukraine.
‘How he believed that when the conflict ends, he’ll dwell right here, with us in Rivne. How he liked all of us, Rivne, Ukraine,’ he stated.
Ms Konstantynova posted a number of pictures of Mr O’Donnell within the subject, together with a video of him firing a gun earlier than smiling on the digicam
Mr O’Donnell served within the Australian Military half time as a rifleman from 2015 to 2020 after which as a full-time artillery observer till leaving in February 2021
Nonetheless, not everybody mourned Mr O’Donnell as Russian supporters of the conflict referred to as him a ‘Nazi mercenary’ and cheered his loss of life.
‘Australian mercenary Sage O’Donnell has been eradicated within the SVO zone, presumably close to Bakhmut,’ a put up on a Putin-supporting web page learn, with nearly 4,000 like and a whole bunch of feedback.
‘He got here to Ukraine to kill Russians and bought what he deserved.’
‘A mercenary from Australia, Sage O’Donnell, who was dashing to the zone of the particular navy operation “to kill Russians”, was eradicated in one of many battles within the Artemovsky path,’ a Russian Fb person posted.
A Twitter account referred to as ‘Nazi Merc Tracker’, which follows and posts the actions of overseas fighters in Ukraine, made a number of posts mocking his loss of life.
Ukrainian teams hailed Mr O’Donnell a hero who died attempting to liberate them
Nonetheless, not everybody mourned Mr O’Donnell as Russian supporters of the conflict referred to as him a ‘Nazi mercenary’ and cheered his loss of life
‘Sage Avalon O’Donnell, just lately with couple extra Aussie f*gs went too deep in Ukraine and ended up pig feed… Merry Christmas,’ it wrote.
One of many web page’s followers added: ‘The photograph ops actually make dying within the mountains of Ukraine within the winter value it.’
Each day Mail Australia understands Mr O’Donnell was not a member of the Ukrainian International Legion.
A good friend of his additionally stated he was ‘serving to practice Ukrainian Military volunteers so they would not be killed’.
Mr O’Donnell served within the Australian Military half time as a rifleman from 2015 to 2020 after which as a full-time artillery observer till leaving in February 2021.
His heartbroken mom stated in a press release launched by DFAT that her son was a ‘kind-hearted’ younger man who needed to assist the individuals of Ukraine.
Mr O’Donnell (pictured), 24, died combating abroad to ‘defend the liberty of the Ukrainian individuals’
Mr O’Donnell volunteered to struggle within the war-torn jap European nation after Russia’s bloody invasion in February (pictured, Ukrainian troopers)
‘Sage died in motion defending the liberty of the Ukrainian individuals. Sage has all the time believed in defending nation, individuals and the correct for freedom,’ she stated.
‘Sage selected to take motion based mostly on his empathy for the Ukrainian individuals, and the injustice that’s happening.
‘He fell in love with Ukraine and its tradition, and was humbled by the kindness and hospitality inside his new neighborhood.’
Mr O’Donnell’s mom stated her son all the time ‘selected to dwell his life true to his beliefs and trigger’ and ‘passionately upheld his values’.
She added that his household have been ‘devastated by our current lack of Sage’.
‘Sage was a lot liked by his family and friends. Sage’s humour, type coronary heart, values and laughter shall be dearly missed,’ she stated.
DFAT stated they have been offering consular help to Mr O’Donnell’s household.
It is unknown precisely the place or when Mr O’Donnell was killed.
DFAT has not supplied any additional particulars about Mr O’Donnell or the circumstances surrounding his loss of life.
The loss of life of Mr O’Donnell comes as Russian president Vladimir Putin revealed he was open to holding talks with Ukraine.
Residence buildings in Bakhmut broken from missile strikes are seen. One Twitter account claimed Mr O’Donnell died in Bakhmut
The inside of condo buildings broken from missile strikes is pictured, as Russia’s assault on Ukraine continues, throughout intense shelling on Christmas Day on the frontline in Bakhmut, Ukraine
In an interview with state tv concerning the conflict in Ukraine, excerpts of which have been launched on Boxing Day, Putin stated that Russia is ‘ready to barter some acceptable outcomes’.
Putin informed Rossiya 1 state tv: ‘We’re prepared to barter with everybody concerned about acceptable options, however that’s as much as them – we aren’t those refusing to barter, they’re.’
The Kremlin has repeated this sentiment in current months, as its invasion of Ukraine, which was launched in February, continues to lose momentum.
Regardless of the Russian president’s feedback, the Kremlin has been ramping up its assaults on the south and east of the nation over the Christmas interval – a transparent signal that peace is not imminent.
Russian president Vladimir Putin spoke with a journalist on Russian state TV concerning the conflict in opposition to Ukraine, excerpts of which have been launched at this time
Greater than 100,000 Russian troopers have been killed in Ukraine and half of Russian tanks destroyed, with stockpiles of shells, missiles and ammunition additionally depleted.
A rustic-wide air raid alert was introduced twice on Sunday alone, and three missiles hit all through the afternoon within the metropolis of Kramatorsk within the partially occupied Donetsk area, in response to native officers.
The missiles hit an industrial space of town, and there weren’t any casualties, in response to the Ukrainian governor of Donetsk, Pavlo Kyrylenko.
Kyrylenko stated that town of Avdiivka was additionally attacked on Sunday with six rounds of shelling, and {that a} lady was wounded there.
This {photograph} taken on December 25, 2022, exhibits Sviatohirsk Cave Monastery, ‘an Orthodox Christian monastery’, partially broken by shelling within the city of Sviatohirsk, in Donetsk area
Air raids continued throughout the nation on Christmas day, with Ukrainian navy personnel remaining on heightened alert. Picured: A Ukrainian soldier drives an armoured provider on a street within the Donetsk area
Elsewhere within the frontline area, across the metropolis of Bakhmut, the place fierce battles have been underway in current weeks, intense shelling has been reported.
However Russian forces have been struggling to maintain up the tempo of their offensive, a US-based suppose tank reported this weekend.
‘Russian forces’ fee of advance within the Bakhmut space has doubtless slowed in current days, though it’s too early to evaluate whether or not the Russian offensive to seize Bakhmut has culminated,’ the Institute for the Research of Struggle wrote in its current replace.
The suppose tank cited Russian navy bloggers, who it stated have just lately acknowledged ‘that Ukrainian forces within the Bakhmut space have managed to barely decelerate the tempo of the Russian advance round Bakhmut and its surrounding settlements.’
