Brit sniper found children tied up and shot through head in Russian war crime horror – World News
Shane Matthew was on the frontline in war-torn Ukraine for around a month and describes his experiences as he witnessed the full horror of the Russian invasion
Shane Matthew, pictured on tour in Iraq in 2011, was in Ukraine for around a month (
Image: Solent News & Photo Agency)
An ex-British Army sniper saw first-hand the ‘atrocities’ committed by Russian forces who occupied Ukrainian territory near Kyiv.
Shane Matthew, 34, was in the war-torn country for around a month on Ukraine’s frontline witnessing the horrors of the Russian invasion.
The former British Army sniper has seen a lot of fighting since his arrival in the battle-ravaged country, as part of the Foreign Legion of Territorial Defense of Ukraine.
The group was formed by President Volodomyr Zelenskyy, who urged foreigners to come to Ukraine to help repel Vladimir Putin’s war machine.
A fully qualified field medic, Mr Matthew started out in the Princess of Wales Royal Regiment based in Portsmouth before leaving to try his hand at private military contracting.
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A fully qualified field medic, Mr Matthew, centre, is pictured in a group holding a sniper rifle
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Image:
Solent News & Photo Agency)
He has combat experience in Iraq, Afghanistan and Syria, but described Ukraine as “one of the most horrendous experiences of my life”.
Mr Matthew, who works on Crimsham Farm in Bognor Regis, West Sussex, left his Chichester home last month to help Ukrainian nationals defend their home from Russian invaders.
He “snuck back home” on Saturday night, having trained more than 1,000 Ukrainian volunteers in basic first aid and fundamental soldiering.
Although impressed by the fighting grit of the Ukrainian people and optimistic about their chances against the Russians, Mr Matthew was horrified by what he saw.
Shane Matthews on tour in Afghanistan circa 2009
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Image:
Solent News & Photo Agency)
He said: “We were stuck outside Bucha and I was fighting for four days. When we managed to get control of the city, we discovered what’s being broadcast on the news at the moment.
“Streets littered with dead bodies. Children with their hands bound and their heads shot. It’s beyond atrocious.”
Determined to document the hardship, Mr Matthew plans to return to Ukraine in a few weeks time, taking a camera with him to get the truth out to as many people as possible.
He added: “I want to photograph what’s happened and get it out in the public that war crimes have been committed. I want people to see exactly what’s been going on.”
Shane Matthews on tour in Afghanistan circa 2008
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Image:
Solent News & Photo Agency)
Mr Matthew flew to Poland at the start of last month, before crossing the border and meeting a Ukrainian colonel, who agreed to “arm him” and 21 other volunteer fighters.
From there the experienced sniper travelled to Ukraine’s under-siege capital, transporting some 60kg of medical supplies that had been donated to him.
The former military contractor hit the frontline, helping treat wounded Ukrainians and providing training for civilians rising up against Putin’s forces.
Since Russia forces retreated from Buch and Irpin, just outside Kyiv, harrowing images of the devastation caused by the occupation have emerged.
Civilians shot dead with their hands tied behind their backs and mass graves were uncovered, along with allegations of women being raped and killed in front of their children.
President Zelensky told the UN Security Council yesterday (Tues) there was “not a single crime” that Russian troops had not committed in Bucha.
The International Criminal Court (ICC) launched an investigation into the claims of war crimes and could issue arrest warrants to bring the perpetrators to trial in The Hague.
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