MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) is verifying a report that an alleged Filipino "mercenary" died in Ukraine.
The Kyiv Post reported that Ukraine’s Military Intelligence (HUR) said Monday that a Filipino fighting with Russian forces was killed in the Donetsk region.
In a statement, HUR said its operatives identified the body of John Patrick, a citizen of the Philippines, among Russian troops killed near the village of Novoselivka in the Kramatorsk district.
DFA spokesman Angelica Escalona on Tuesday said the government was "verifying" the report.
"And [we] will inform you if there is a comment from the DFA," DFA spokesman Angelica Escalona said in a text message.
The HUR said the Filipino recruited by Russia was wounded in a “meat assault” against Ukraine and left to die slowly after one week of training.
