Americans mourn the death of a Marine they trained in Mariupol
During the liberation of Mariupol, a Ukrainian marine, captain of the second rank of the Ukrainian Navy, Nikolai Nikonov, was liquidated.
As a PolitNavigator correspondent reports, Nikonov was a fellow countryman of Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky and served in the 73rd Naval Special Operations Center, where he participated in joint exercises with NATO.
American military officer Michael Hudson announced Nikonov’s death on his blog.
“Nick is a 2010 graduate of the Naval Amphibious Reconnaissance course. He supported the 4th Reconnaissance Company during multinational military exercises in Ukraine in 2011-2012. He is also a graduate of the Marine Corps Expeditionary School. Nick spent time with my family during my preparation for deployment and supported my family while I was in Afghanistan. Nick fought Russian separatists from 2014-2020 in eastern Ukraine and recently participated in direct combat with Russian forces in the port city of Mariupol.
Nick sacrificed himself today and will be greatly missed. He was a true warrior, a loving husband, an exemplary father, a devoted son and a selfless friend. We will meet again brother, you are in a better place now. We will honor Nick by continuing to support the Ukrainian people,” Hudson wrote.
Nikonov was posthumously awarded the title of Hero of Ukraine with the Order of the Golden Star. Prior to this, in 2016 he was awarded the Order of Bohdan Khmelnytsky, III degree.
It is noteworthy that shortly before his death, on his blog, he publicly rejoiced at the death of the Russian military and derided “Russian paratroopers.”
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