Robert Deegan, aged 29, from Newbridge, County Kildare, was previously a part of the Army Ranger Wing, elite section of the Defence Forces. He tragically lost his life whilst engaging in conflict against Russian forces in Ukraine. His death was disclosed on Sunday although he was mortally injured in combat last Thursday. It has been speculated that his body might still be in the process of recovery by his comrades from Ukraine.
Deegan’s association with Ukraine seems to have begun after the Russian incursion in February 2022. Known to be a man of strong principles, it is believed he was ardently invested in the Russian defeat.
Two years back, Deegan was a victim of a surprise bomb attack during active duty as he was travelling in a vehicle. He sustained severe facial injuries and lost an eye. Post-injury, he was brought back to Ireland for medical care and rehabilitation, but he chose to go back to Ukraine earlier this year to rejoin the combat.
He was part of Special Unit Stugna, a section of the special forces in Ukraine in charge of difficult and risky operations. It’s thought that Deegan suffered lethal injuries while helping his team withdraw from a scene of confrontation with the Russian military.
Deegan had an illustrious 11-year tenure with the Defence Forces and secured a prestigious placement in the Army Ranger Wing in 2017. Military service is a family tradition, with his father being an ex-Army Ranger Wing and Defence Forces member and his brother being an active member of the army. As per sources, they hold a remarkable reputation as a military family.
Before committing his life to the Defence Forces, Mr Deegan had been employed within the realm of emergency services. Those who knew him well remember his younger years, in his teens and into his 20s, when his athleticism shone brightly. These days, however, his military service was his main concentration.
While attending the United Nations Summit of the Future in New York recently, Irish President Michael D Higgins took the opportunity to express his deep sympathies to Mr Deegan’s family for their shocking loss, referring to the incident as a “terrible tragedy”.
In response to raise queries, the Department of Foreign Affairs confirmed their awareness of the distressing reports and assured that they were offering consular services in the matter. It added, however, that under standard protocol, no detailed commentary would be provided on individual cases.
On Sunday, the Defence Forces were also reached out for a comment, as it had been reported that efforts were still underway to track down and inform some of the deceased’s family and close ones.
In a related distressing incident, Alex Ryzhuk, a young 20-year-old hailing from Rathmines, south Dublin, was declared missing in action by the Ukrainian forces while he was embedded on the frontline in the battle against Russia. A medic from Ukraine who was aware of Ryzhuk’s situation stated that Ryzhuk, who was also known as “Irlandets” (which translates to “Irishman” in Ukrainian), was tragically killed in what appeared to be a Russian drone assault.