A former member of the elite wing of the Irish Defense Forces' army rangers has died in battles against Russian troops in Ukraine.
According to the Irish Times,' 29-year-old Robert Deegan from Newbridge in County Kildare was fatally wounded during the fighting in Ukraine last Thursday, although news of his death in combat surfaced on Sunday.
It is unclear whether his remains have been recovered by his Ukrainian colleagues, although several sources in Ireland reported that they believe this process is still ongoing.
Although Robert Deegan appeared to have no ties to Ukraine before Russia's invasion in February 2022, he was deeply convinced that the Russians must be defeated.
Sources describe him as a principled individual who was determined to play his role in the fight alongside Ukraine and always intended to return to the war, even after being injured there two years ago.
In October 2022, while driving during a mission, he was blown up by an improvised explosive device. Deegan sustained serious injuries, including to his face, and ultimately lost an eye.
He was evacuated back to Ireland, where he underwent treatment and rehabilitation, after which he returned to Ukraine earlier this year. In Ukraine, he was a member of the special forces unit 'Stuhna,' which participates in complex and dangerous missions.
It has been reported that he was fatally wounded while covering his team's retreat from the area during battles with Russian troops.
Robert Deegan joined the Irish Defense Forces 11 years ago and secured a coveted place in the army ranger wing in 2017. His father is a former serviceman who also served in the army ranger wing, and his brother is an active serviceman. Sources describe them as a highly respected military family.
Speaking in New York, where he addressed the United Nations Summit of the Future yesterday, President Michael D Higgins extended his condolences to the family of the former Irish soldier, describing his killing as a “terrible tragedy”.
