A highly respected Ukrainian commander took his own life after his fighters deserted their posts allowing Russia to grab a strategic city in the war, it has been revealed.
Lt-Col Ihor Gryb, 33, shot himself after his troops failed to defend their positions, leading to the loss of Vuhledar.
The decorated fighter was commander of the 186th separate battalion of the 123rd separate brigade of the Territorial Defence Forces.
An announcement from Pervomayska City Council reported that the “hero” commander died while performing official duties, without explaining the circumstances.
“The best sons of their country go to eternity,” said the announcement.
But Ukrainian journalist Volodymyr Boyko reported: “The 33-year-old battalion commander shot himself on October 2 after his battalion escaped from its positions near Vuhledar, as a result of which the city was finally lost.”
After lining up his men, Gryb let the fighters go and rest, it was reported.
Then a shot was heard.
There was no one else at the scene of the tragedy.
Military journalist Yuliya Kiriyenko-Merinova said the commander’s brigade had defied an order take up defensive positions instead of the exhausted 72nd brigade amid a major Russian push.
His men – numbering around 100 – “simply refused to take up the positions “to support the 72nd in Vuhledar”.
“But the brigade ran away somewhere. And then the commander of the battalion shot himself,” Ms
Kiriyenko-Merinova explained.
The same day, the Ukrainians announced their withdrawal from the blitzed city, which allowed the Russians to take over.
Pictures showed the funeral of the commander in the village of Kryve Ozero, Mykolaiv region.
His coffin was carried by “his brothers in arms”, said reports.
As a battalion commander, he defended Ukraine in Mykolaiv, Kherson and Donetsk regions.
He was promoted to Lt-Col soon after the start of the war.
The commander is survived by his wife, young daughter, parents and sister.
Despite the loss of some positions on the frontline, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will present a final “victory plan” over Russia to his country’s allies in Germany this weekend.
“We will present the victory plan, clear, specific steps for a just end to the war,” Mr Zelensky wrote on the Telegram messaging app.
The Ukrainian leader will meet United States President Joe Biden and other leaders at a regular meeting of Kyiv’s key Nato and other allies at the U.S. Ramstein Air Base on Saturday.
Ukraine has now been fighting off an invasion from its much larger superpower neighbour for around 1,000 days.