The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) announced Tuesday that it is working to verify reports that a Filipino national was killed while fighting for Russian forces in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
The report originated from Ukraine’s Military Intelligence (HUR), which identified the individual as John Patrick. According to Ukrainian officials, Patrick was killed during a high-casualty frontal assault—often referred to as a “meat assault”—in the Kramatorsk District of the Donetsk region.
HUR stated that the Filipino national served in the 9th Battalion, 283rd Regiment of the Russian military’s 20th Combined Arms Army.
Intelligence gathered from the man’s electronic devices suggested he received only one week of basic training before being deployed to the front lines. Ukrainian authorities further alleged that Patrick was left behind without evacuation after being wounded in a forested area.
“The Department of Foreign Affairs is verifying reports of a Filipino national said to have died on the front lines fighting for Russia,” the agency said in a brief statement.
The incident comes amid growing international concern over Russia’s recruitment of foreign nationals to bolster its ranks.
While Moscow has previously accused Western-linked firms of recruiting Filipinos for the Ukrainian side—claims the DFA and the Ukrainian Embassy in Manila have dismissed as “baseless fabrications”—this marks the first high-profile report of a Filipino casualty among Russian forces.
The DFA has consistently warned Filipinos against traveling to conflict zones and reminded citizens to remain vigilant against illegal recruitment schemes promising high-paying overseas jobs that lead to combat roles.
As of Tuesday, the Philippine government has not yet confirmed the identity or the official status of the individual named in the report.
