Ukraine’s second Taiwanese volunteer fighter killed in Luhansk Oblast

Taiwan's foreign ministry confirmed death of second volunteer fighter in Ukraine since 2022. Wu Chung-ta, 44, killed by Russian bombing.

Nov 3, 2024 - 08:00

Ukraine’s second Taiwanese volunteer fighter killed in Luhansk Oblast

ukraine's second taiwanese volunteer fighter killed luhansk oblast wu chung-ta page taipei-based pastor huang chun-sheng focus taiwan 992x968_881255048382

A second Taiwanese volunteer fighter has been killed while fighting alongside Ukrainian forces against Russia, Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) confirmed on 3 November, AFP says. Focus Taiwan reports that the deceased has been identified by Taiwan’s local media as Wu Chung-ta, a 44-year-old Kaohsiung native and veteran of Taiwan’s Army Special Forces Command.

At the outset of Russia’s full-scale invasion, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy invited foreigners to join the country’s International legion within the Territorial Defense to fight alongside Ukrainians. Formed by presidential decree, the Legion has since played a role in key campaigns and is embedded within prominent Ukrainian brigades.

According to the China Times, Wu died from Russian bombing in Luhansk Oblast on 3 November, as reported by Focus Taiwan. The newspaper says that Wu joined the International Legion of the Ukrainian Territorial Defense Forces in 2023 and later transferred to Ukraine’s armed forces, fighting on the frontline against Russian troops.

MOFA deputy spokesman Hsiao Kuangwei told Focus Taiwan that the ministry confirmed the death through the International Legion for the Defense of Ukraine.

Democratic Progressive Party Legislator Puma Shen told Focus Taiwan that Wu’s death was first reported to Taipei-based Pastor Huang Chun-sheng by other Taiwanese fighters in Ukraine. Shen added that while a Ukrainian drone has located Wu’s body, ongoing battles have prevented its retrieval.

According to sources cited by the China Times, six Taiwanese nationals continue serving as volunteer combatants for Ukraine.

The first Taiwanese casualty in the Russo-Ukrainian war was Tseng Sheng-kuang, a 25-year-old member of the International Legion of Ukraine’s territorial defense forces, who was killed in action in November 2022.

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