A Navy SEAL who’s been AWOL since 2019 was killed in Ukraine this week, a Navy official confirmed to CBS News on Friday. Daniel W. Swift was killed in Ukraine on Wednesday, the official mentioned.
Swift’s Navy bio reveals he was a SEAL who has been in lively deserter standing since March 11, 2019. The official didn’t know when or why Swift went to Ukraine.
Swift was a particular warfare operator 1st Class who enlisted within the Navy in 2005.
According to his navy bio, Swift was most not too long ago stationed in Coronado, California, and had additionally accomplished stints in Alaska, Illinois, Florida and Georgia. He had earned quite a few awards, together with a Legion of Merit, a Navy/Marine Corps Commendation Medal, an Iraq Campaign Medal and an Afghanistan Campaign Medal.
Swift is the most recent American to die in Ukraine since Russia launched its offensive almost a 12 months in the past.
In August, the State Department confirmed that an unidentified U.S. citizen was killed in Ukraine, and in July, the households of Luke Lucyszyn and Bryan Young confirmed to CBS News that the lads had been killed preventing Russian troops in jap Ukraine.
At least eight Americans have been killed in Ukraine for the reason that invasion started.
The U.S. State Department has lengthy discouraged Americans from going to combat for Ukraine.
“U.S. citizens who travel to Ukraine — especially with the purpose of participating in fighting there — they face significant risks, including the very real risk of capture or death,” State Department spokesperson Ned Price mentioned final March. “The United States, as you know, is not able to provide assistance to evacuate U.S. citizens from Ukraine, including those Americans who may decide to travel to Ukraine to participate in the ongoing war.”
On Wednesday, the State Department mentioned the U.S. has to date invested about $27.5 billion in safety help to Ukraine. The U.S. has additionally despatched tools and weapons to Kyiv, together with greater than 8,500 Javelin anti-armor techniques, 50,000 different anti-armor techniques and munitions, and 700 Switchblade Tactical Unmanned Aerial Systems.
Meanwhile, prime Pentagon officers mentioned Friday that the following few months are essential to the success of any Ukrainian counteroffensive within the spring.
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on Friday mentioned there’s “a window of opportunity” forward of the spring to get Ukraine the capabilities they should go on the offensive.