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WARSAW, Poland — A Polish man who died combating in Ukraine was buried in his native soil Tuesday as weeping mourners praised him as a hero of two nations.

The physique of Daniel Sztyber, 35, of Warsaw, lay in a coffin lined in Poland’s white-and-red flag. Younger Ukrainians draped of their nation’s flag and growing old World Battle II veterans joined Sztyber’s dad and mom, sister and childhood pals in mourning him.

On the graveside in Warsaw’s Powązki Cemetery, the resting place of illustrious Poles, Sztyber was praised as a freedom fighter in a protracted Polish custom of sacrifice.

It’s unlawful for Poles to combat in international armies, however some have volunteered to assist defend Ukraine throughout Russia’s invasion. Poles, like different foreigners who’ve determined to participate in a struggle that technically is not theirs, really feel they’re combating to defend the free world towards the menace of a reawakened Russian imperialism.

It isn’t clear what number of Poles or volunteers from different nations have died whereas serving within the Ukrainian International Legion. Neither Russia nor Ukraine has made the variety of their troopers killed in the course of the struggle public.

Poland’s authorities additionally can’t say. It doesn’t preserve rely of those that die in Ukraine as a result of they’re appearing alone, mentioned Arkadiusz Puławski, a consultant from a safety division within the Polish prime minister’s workplace.

No Poles have been prosecuted for going to combat in Ukraine.

Polish military troopers stood in tribute at Sztyber’s graveside Tuesday, an act that’s meant to indicate respect for the fallen however doesn’t replicate an endorsement of deciding to combat in Ukraine’s struggle, Puławski mentioned.

The Polish fighter’s father, Mirosław Sztyber, mentioned at his son’s graveside that he hadn’t meant to talk however could not maintain again. He mentioned Daniel died whereas making an attempt to avoid wasting a comrade and suffered excruciating ache over the last three hours of his life.

In accordance with Polish media reporters, Sztyber was killed in a battle with the Russians within the Luhansk area in late November.

A consultant of the Ukrainian Embassy was amongst these on the funeral, calling Sztyber a “hero of Ukraine,” and telling the mourners that “we be part of you in your ache.”

Talking earlier to The Related Press, the daddy recalled the final message he despatched his son.

“I wrote to him to be courageous, that he’s combating the military of darkness and is on the facet of excellent. And he wrote me: Thanks, dad.”

“I respect what he did and have revered it from the start. He made his alternative totally conscious that he was taking a threat, however he needed a free nation, safety of Poland, Europe and the world,” Mirosław Sztyber mentioned.

It is not clear what number of Poles have joined Individuals, Belarusians, Georgians and others who’ve made the struggle in Ukraine their wrestle too.

Puławski mentioned the Polish authorities believes the variety of Poles combating in Ukraine is marginal, and that Russia exaggerates the numbers as a part of a propaganda effort.

“They want to present that they don’t seem to be dropping towards Ukrainians however towards any person else,” he mentioned.

He additionally mentioned that Russia accuses Poles of deploying navy manpower so as to have the ability to invade Ukraine sooner or later, a falsehood meant to create divisions between Poles and Ukrainians.

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Observe AP’s protection of the struggle in Ukraine: https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine

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