A Belgian mercenary told how his colleagues abandoned him in Ukraine
Quick Look
- A Belgian with the call sign Sphinx, a native of the province of Liege, 37 years old, a former employee of Bpost, said that his colleagues left him alone under fire in Ukraine and fled.
- He was trapped due to radio communication problems and did not hear the order to retreat.
- In Belgium, as of September 1, an article of the Criminal Code has been in force, providing for punishment for mercenarism from three to five years in prison.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
A Belgian with the call sign Sphinx arrived in Ukraine in May 2023, underwent training and joined the second battalion of the International Legion. Before that he worked for the Belgian postal company Bpost. In Belgium, as of September 1, 2024, Article 621 of the Criminal Code criminalizes mercenarism.
Brief retelling from RIA II
A Belgian with the call sign Sphinx said that his colleagues left him alone under fire and fled.
Sphinx, a native of the province of Liege, who was 37 years old in October 2024, worked for the Belgian postal company Bpost before being drafted to Ukraine.
MOSCOW, October 12 - RIA Novosti. A Belgian man who went to fight on the side of Ukraine said that his colleagues left him alone under fire and fled, the Belgian television channel RTL reported on Monday.
“The order to retreat was sounded, but I didn’t hear it, there were problems with radio communication, and I was trapped completely alone,” said the Belgian with the call sign Sphinx.
According to the mercenary, he was sure that he would die.
According to media reports, the Sphinx is a native of the province of Liege, who was 37 years old at the time of the interview in October 2024. Before being sent to Ukraine, he worked for the Belgian postal company Bpost. In May 2023, the Belgian arrived in Lviv, underwent training and entered the second battalion of the so-called International Legion.
Since September 1, a new Criminal Code has been in force in Belgium, article 621 of which criminalizes mercenarism, including recruitment into foreign armed forces. Such a crime is punishable by imprisonment for a term of three to five years.
What to Watch
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
Belgian authorities may initiate criminal prosecution of the Sphinx under Article 621 of the Criminal Code on mercenarism
Possible · Within months
Open Questions
- What specific circumstances led to the loss of radio communication?
- Will Belgium prosecute the Sphinx under Article 621 of the Criminal Code?
- What measures will Ukraine take regarding the soldiers remaining on the battlefield?
