It is difficult to know how many Frenchmen went to Ukraine to fight under the banner of the International Territorial Defense Legion. At the start of the conflict, Vladimir Zelensky happily welcomed 20,000, an unverifiable number, from around the world. It is impossible to have updated data since then. Antoine* is one of the volunteers who are armed and determined to fight the Russian army.
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If we still don’t know his age and how long he joined the Ukrainian ranks, we know that the experienced young man suffered a serious injury at the end of November, Quai d’Orsay notes. The fighter stepped on a mine, which exploded under its weight. He is currently in a military hospital in Kyiv, RTL reports.
Without timely surgery, sepsis threatens, which can lead to amputation. Now it is at this point that the situation of the French volunteer becomes complicated. Victim of ongoing power outages and frequently bombed, Ukraine does not offer optimal conditions for operating on a wounded soldier.
Therefore, the French asked to be repatriated. In the face of apparent silence from the embassy and the Quai d’Orsay, a surge of solidarity was born among those who follow and comment on the conflict on a daily basis. Among them is former French army pilot, aviation and defense consultant Xavier Titelman, known for his analyzes on YouTube and television since the beginning of the war, who raised the alarm about the young man’s situation. Explaining that he had contact with the latter, he appealed to Emmanuel Macron and the Quai d’Orsay via Twitter, threatening to repatriate him if nothing was done.
Is related Le Figaro, the expert stated that he was ready to pay 1,800 euros to purchase a medical ambulance to pick up the injured person from the Polish border. He could then be repatriated to the European Union. “We go looking for jihadists, but do nothing to help a wounded Frenchman on the battlefield.“He complains, reminding that since the beginning of the conflict, he donates the money earned thanks to his YouTube channel and his explanatory videos to the people who need it in Ukraine.
There will be no need to deploy these logistical means, as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs responded in the meantime. “We were informed about the situation of this Frenchman through the French Embassy in Kyiv, the Ministry is mobilized to help him and is in contact with his family.“, we assure you. According to Javier Titelman, Private Antoine is currently undergoing his fourth operation on Ukrainian soil. “The situation is changing for the better“, he concludes.
*Name has been changed
Source: Le Figaro
I am David Wyatt, a professional writer and journalist for Buna Times. I specialize in the world section of news coverage, where I bring to light stories and issues that affect us globally. As a graduate of Journalism, I have always had the passion to spread knowledge through writing.