"Rory's memory will live on"
A 23-year-old Irishman has been "killed in action" in Ukraine, near the Russian border.
According to a statement issued by the Department of Foreign Affairs, Rory Mason was killed while fighting in the International Legion for the Defence of Ukraine on September 28th.
The Mason family learned of Rory's death through the Department of Foreign Affairs, which are providing consular assistance.
23-year-old Rory enlisted in March. According to
The Irish Examiner, he was killed in the Kharkiv region near the Russian border.
International Legion for the Defence of Ukraine as part of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, issued a statement following the Irishman's death;
"While conducting operations, the unit came under attack," the legion said.
"The International Legion and the Armed Forces of Ukraine are handling the repatriation process.
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"At this time, to protect operational security and the family's privacy we cannot release more information," the statement concluded, "Rory's memory will live on in his unit, in the Legion and the Armed Forces of Ukraine".
His family also issued a statement on his death, Rory's younger siblings have said that they are "proud" of their brother.
"We are enormously proud of his courage and determination."
His father praised his son for "immediately enlisting to support Ukraine," adding that "Rory could have left at any time but chose not to."
This article originally appeared on Her.ie.
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