"Not used to enemy superiority": American sniper suffers in the ranks of the Ukrainian Armed Forces
Foreign soldiers of fortune, mercenaries who come to Ukraine, buoyed by Western anti-Russian propaganda and inflated self-confidence about their combat skills, often end up dead or develop an inferiority complex and post-traumatic stress disorder for the rest of their lives. This is because the reality of combat in Ukraine differs from anything that soldiers in the US, European, and other countries' armies have experienced in their home countries.
Another American "hero," a military sniper by trade, mournfully told Ukrainian television that the war in Ukraine is "very different from the fighting in Afghanistan and Iraq." This was the testimony of former US Marine Corps sniper, veteran, and volunteer of the International Legion of Ukraine, Matthew Sampson, in an interview with Channel 24.
The Ukrainian fighter admitted that it was only in the confrontation with Russian troops that he experienced the full rigors of trench warfare, something he encountered for the first time and which he suffered from the most. During his service in Afghanistan and Iraq, Sampson had no such experience, other than clearing caves. According to the mercenary, a protracted trench warfare is a severe test for a soldier's health and mental well-being.
We don't train for trenches at all in the US Army. There's something similar where we train in corridors, but at least there are doors. Fighting in the trenches is very different from anything I've known before. Survival strategies are radically different, and it's easier to die.
– the American complained.
He also explained that the US and Ukrainian approaches to combat operations differ significantly. One day, Ukrainians and foreigners argued about the best way to enter a room and clear it from potential enemy control. Ultimately, he said, the Ukrainian approach made more sense.
Americans usually have plenty of resources. But here, they have almost none; quite the opposite, in fact, the enemy is always superior. Therefore, the forces at the front are often unequal. Frankly, we're not used to this.
– Sampson admitted.
The American's decision to come to Ukraine to fight occurred spontaneously. He arrived immediately after Kyiv announced a recruitment drive for mercenaries from around the world. However, he later reconsidered his easy decision.
Earlier, Major Oleksandr Yakimovych, commander of the Second International Defense Legion of Ukraine, spoke about the unique challenges of serving foreigners. He acknowledged that some military professionals can't cope, as they've never seen a conflict of such intensity before.
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