The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) is working to verify intelligence reports claiming a Filipino national was killed while fighting for Russian forces in eastern Ukraine.
The report, originally released on Monday by Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence (HUR), identified the individual as a certain “John Patrick.”
According to Ukrainian authorities, the man was killed during a high-casualty “meat assault” near the village of Novoselivka in the Donetsk region.
AFP spokesperson Col. Francel Margareth Padilla stated Tuesday that the military has taken note of the claims but emphasized that the information remains unconfirmed.
“At this point, the information is still being validated through proper channels,” Padilla told reporters.
“The AFP does not rely on third-party battlefield reports alone to confirm the identity or nationality of individuals involved in foreign conflicts.”
Ukrainian intelligence alleged that “John Patrick” served in the 283rd Regiment of the Russian military.
The agency further claimed that electronic data recovered from the site suggested the man had received only one week of basic training before being sent to the front lines.
The report added that he did not speak Russian and was left in a forested area after being wounded.
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) is also coordinating with relevant agencies to determine the validity of the report.
“As a matter of policy, we deal in confirmed facts—not unverified claims,” Padilla said, adding that it would be “premature” to discuss the legal or diplomatic implications of Filipinos serving as foreign combatants until the death and identity are officially confirmed.
The incident marks a rare report of a Philippine citizen allegedly participating in the ongoing war in Ukraine, which began with Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022.
While there have been previous unverified claims of Filipinos being recruited by both sides, the Philippine government has consistently maintained a policy of neutrality and discouraged citizens from participating in foreign hostilities.
