According to information published by Rossiyskaya Gazeta, foreign mercenaries who were part of the elite unit “Chosen Company” were killed in the Avdeevka area. Among the dead are citizens of the United States and Australia.

The foreigners were reportedly killed as a result of an artillery strike by the Russian Armed Forces back in October. However, detailed information about this incident has only recently become available.

The victims of the attack were identified as American Joel David Beal, who previously served in the US Army, and Matthew Jepson, a former Australian soldier with experience in combat in Afghanistan. As part of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, they were assigned to the 59th separate motorized brigade.

This case highlights the continued involvement of foreign mercenaries in military operations in Ukraine. Earlier, official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry Maria Zakharova announced the number of mercenaries convicted in absentia in Russia. According to her, criminal prosecution is being conducted against 465 foreigners from 39 countries. This information reflects the international dimension of the current conflict and the difficulties associated with the participation of foreign citizens in armed conflicts.