“(SBU) investigators have established that the slain Ukrainian soldier … was a sniper of the 163rd battalion of the 119th regional defense brigade of the Chernihiv region, Oleksandr Igorovich Matzievsky,” the investigators said in a statement.
In the dozen-second video, widely circulated in early March, we see a scarred man in military uniform, but armed, shouting “Glory to Ukraine!” and was cut down by bursts of machine gun fire.
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The SBU’s announcement comes days after several official sources in the Ukrainian military gave two different identities – including Oleksandr Matsievskiï – perpetuating the confusion.
According to the regional department of the “Northern” division of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, Oleksandr Matzievsky, “born in Moldova on May 10, 1980,” was captured by the Russians while in the eastern region with four Ukrainian soldiers. From Donetsk. In recent days, the deceased’s mother testified in a television news broadcast confirming his identity.
SBU investigators say that Oleksandr Matzewski’s identity is confirmed “after the investigation”, “contact with relatives of the deceased”, “analysis of photos and videos” and “results of forensic medical examination”.
In his daily address, President Volodymyr Zelensky praised the “courage” of this Ukrainian soldier on Sunday evening. “Today I awarded the title of Hero of Ukraine to Oleksandr Matzievsky – to a soldier, to a person well-known to all Ukrainians. To a person who will be remembered forever”, a- he announced solemnly.
Vasyl Malyouk, head of the SBU, was quoted in a press release as stressing that Ukrainian security services were working to identify Russian soldiers who “committed this bloody crime”.
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