Ryan Wesley Routh, aged 58, was apprehended this Sunday for his alleged involvement in an assassination attempt on ex-president Donald Trump, as per FBI reports. Mr Routh, once a construction labourer in Greensboro, North Carolina, had displayed intentions of engaging in combat, even to his death, in Ukraine post the 2022 Russian invasion.
His social media activity on site X hinted at aggressive discourse prevailing for weeks post the Russian attack. As he authoritatively declared, “I am eager to fly to Krakow, proceed to Ukraine borders, volunteer, fight, and even face death”. He later communicated over secure app Signal that civilians ought to reshape the course of this conflict and prevent potential future ones. This statement was a part of his profile bio.
On WhatsApp, his bio iterated that everyone has the duty to combat for human rights, liberty, and democratic values, even in the minutest ways, and extend their support to the Chinese population.
New York Times had interacted with Mr Routh, bereft of any military background, for a section focusing on Americans volunteering for the Ukrainian combat in 2023. Routh had confessed to having visited Ukraine following Russia’s antagonistic movement and was interested in enlisting Afghan forces to undertake warfare there.
During a telephonic exchange with the New York Times in 2023 from Washington, he carried himself with the self-confidence of a seasoned diplomat, convinced of his ambitious support schemes for Ukraine. However, he exhibited little tolerance for any obstructionists in his path. He was quoted responding to a condescending Facebook message from a fellow American combatant, “He should be shot”.
Routh divulged his visit to Washington to have a discussion with the US Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe, also known as the Helsinki Commission, for a span of two hours. His intent was to lobby for a higher degree of support for Ukraine. The commission, under Congressional leadership and facilitated by Congressional aides, holds sway in subjects related to democratic stability and safety. It has vocally supported Ukraine.
Mr Routh has reportedly been actively attempting to draw Afghan soldiers, who have escaped the Taliban, into his cause in Ukraine. According to his claims, he intended to covertly, and at times unlawfully, transfer these individuals from Pakistan and Iran to Ukraine, with numerous expressing a willingness to join.
He hinted at the possibility of illicitly obtaining passports via Pakistan, due to the nation’s level of corruption.
Confirmation does not exist of whether Mr Routh’s plans were implemented, however, one Afghan soldier confirmed that he had been approached and showed interest in the opportunity to fight, if it meant that he could exit Iran, where he was residing illegally.
An individual bearing the identical name and similar age as Mr Routh was detained in Greensboro, North Carolina in 2002, after he had sealed himself in a building, heavily armed with an automatic firearm, as reported by Greensboro News & Record.
The newspaper explained that the individual faced charges of concealed weapon possession and having an automatic machine gun. The outcomes of these charges remain unknown.
This text is a summary of an article previously published by The New York Times.