Kicking off this Memorial weekend honoring family member veterans & all U.S. 🇺🇸🫡Join me in supporting 2 EXCELLENT U.S. Veteran run charities supporting Ukraine since the start of the war. I will match $1000 in total donations to https://t.co/MOYrjUQS4E & https://t.co/9ySTwLzn5R
It was around this time in 2022 that my team of international volunteers and Ukrainians soldiers fought in Severodonetsk, one of the toughest battles of the war.
After chasing a Russian SF team for two days, we became trapped in a stairwell. We had an existencial choice: stay put and get shot by a tank, or descend and get shot by a sniper.
I was incredibly fortunate to escape, but not everyone did. I described this battle in detailed in my book. See the comments.
This weekend we remember the anniversary of D-Day and honor the great sacrifice of those who were lost 81 years ago. "Our sons, pride of our Nation, this day have set upon a mighty endeavor, a struggle to preserve our Republic, our religion, and our civilization, and to set free a suffering humanity." FDR.
Last night, the House chose to stand with Ukraine, and I was proud to cast my vote.
We passed military and reconstruction aid for Ukraine, plus hard new sanctions on Russia.
We did it over the objections of Mike Johnson and Republican leadership, who spent over a year trying to keep this bill from ever hitting the floor.
Eighteen Republicans crossed the aisle and did the right thing.
Why does this matter?
Because when a giant authoritarian state invades a smaller democracy, there is no gray area. There is no “both sides.”
Vladimir Putin is a thug. He started an unprovoked war. He flattened cities. He stole children from their families. Helping Ukraine isn’t charity. It’s the test of whether we still mean a single word we say about freedom.
I heard every excuse. The war’s winding down, they said, so let’s wait and see. Nonsense. You don’t strengthen a democracy by going wobbly the second things get hard. You don’t stop the next invasion by telling the world American resolve comes with an expiration date. Putin is watching. So is every dictator who dreams of taking what isn’t his by force.
This bill still has to clear the Senate and survive a presidential signature. The odds are long. But the House did its job. And we said it plainly: no country gets swallowed whole just because a tyrant wants it.
I’ll keep fighting to see this through. Ukraine’s fight is our fight, and we do not abandon our friends.
https://t.co/16OTeNW1dD
Історія про херсонських фермерів потрапила у фінал міжнародного конкурсу Photojournalism Prize. За лінком нижче ви можете підтримати цю роботу своїм голосом для участі в категорії глядацького вибору.
https://t.co/6J2MnVCOuP
Це портрет херсонського фермера Олександра Гордієнка, який загинув від ворожого дрону у вересні минулого року.
Я зробив цю фотографію, коли їздив до Олександра у Бериславський район, щоб зробити репортаж про те, якою ціною наші люди вирощують хліб.
Every dollar that reaches Putin’s war machine makes this war harder to end.
Since Russia launched its illegal war against Ukraine, I have worked to tighten the economic vise on Moscow, target the industries sustaining its aggression, and close the gaps that allow the Kremlin to keep profiting while Ukraine keeps fighting.
At today’s Ways & Means hearing, I pressed Treasury Secretary Bessent on the recent sanctions waiver extension involving Russian oil, whether our sanctions are strong enough, and Treasury’s readiness to implement tougher measures, including my Peace Through Strength Against Russia Act—which calls for a 500% tariff on Russian imports, and products from any country that continues financing their war machine.
Peace through strength means using American economic power to raise the cost of aggression, defend freedom, and help secure a just and lasting peace for Ukraine.
Congress can no longer wait on the Administration to act. That’s why we will vote this week on military aid to Ukraine & tough sanctions on Russia. America must have moral clarity in regard to Putin’s invasion and murdering civilians. 70% of Americans want a stronger response.
Congress can no longer wait on the Administration to act. That’s why we will vote this week on military aid to Ukraine & tough sanctions on Russia. America must have moral clarity in regard to Putin’s invasion and murdering civilians. 70% of Americans want a stronger response.
@Kekius_Sage Discussion misses that human brain is completely experiential, reliant on 5 body senses (inputs). Every animals brain is directed & reliant on it‘s inputs. Machine inputs are rudimentary in sensory areas. Comparing those “intelligences” is apples & oranges.
In 2022, many left the safety of their countries to fight against Russia in Ukraine.
I was one of them, and I was surrounded many volunteers who’d made the same choice.
Among them were Grady Kurpasy, a recently retired Marine captain, Tony Vo, a Danish guy who had served in the French Foreign Legion, William Cancel, another U.S. Marine, and Misha, a young Ukrainian officer.
In April 2022. A group of 7 went on a mission. A Russian mechanized force overran their position in southern Ukraine. Tony, Will and Misha, a Ukrainian officer, were killed.
Moments earlier, Grady and a British volunteer had separated from the group earlier.
Under heavy fire, two foreign volunteers tried to carry the three bodies out of the battle field but they couldn’t, or they would die too. The British soldier was captured. As for Grady. No one could confirm him dead or captured. He was missing.
For months, we didn’t hear about Grady, or about the three bodies. Finally, a year after he disappeared, a team of investigators found him. He had been killed during the battle, like the other three.
Civilians had buried many bodies of soldiers near the battle site. When the area was liberated by the Ukrainian forces, those bodies were taken to a morgue in Mykolaiv, among them were four unidentified bodies.
They remained for months, even years, alongside hundreds of other unidentified remains. Volunteers and investigators tested countless bodies, or rather—body parts.
On April 2023, investigators got the first DNA matches, Grady and Misha. In 2024, two more bodies also got a match, Tony and Will. Their remains finally went back to their families.
Last month I was in DC, and I visited the a grave of an old friend—Grady. He’s buried at Arlington cemetery, and remembered in Kyiv, alongside Will, Tony, Misha, and many others.
For those who sacrificed for freedom. #memorialday
Kicking off this Memorial weekend honoring family member veterans & all U.S. 🇺🇸🫡Join me in supporting 2 EXCELLENT U.S. Veteran run charities supporting Ukraine since the start of the war. I will match $1000 in total donations to https://t.co/MOYrjUQS4E & https://t.co/9ySTwLzn5R
Last year Nolan was killed in Ukraine. Since then his family has been helping a lot of the guys he served with.
His mom has given one of his patches to raffle.
@floridasoldat Looks like it’s time to Feed the Gator!!🐊🐊🍖Hope you guys get everything you need for Chosen! Also, thx for telling me a bit about Nolan; more than I heard from his “Cmdr” TBAG🤣Take good care of yourself & your Team over there🫡🇺🇸🇺🇦💪
🚨🐉🇺🇦 FUNDRAISER NOTICE 🇺🇦🐉🚨
Hello, friends!! I have good news, and NEW news!
⭐️ Good news first: the $3,000 goal for my fundraiser to help equip my brothers has been reached! The prizes have been secured and will be sent to the top contributor soon. I’ll also be working on receipts, though it’ll take me a little while this time as I have to go through and edit 50+ days of them lol.
🌟 NEW news: some of you know the name Nolan Durie. He was one of our brothers in Chosen Company from back before we even formed Chosen under the 59th and were still just part of a company in 2nd battalion of the International Legion. In fact, he was my very first friend there and in the AFU in general. We were wounded on the same operation south of Avdiivka in Pervomaiske (Operation Pervo 2, “The Bloodiest Battle of the Chosen Company”). Nolan went on to become part of Tempest Group within 3rd Assault Brigade (now 3rd Army Corps), and unfortunately was killed in action in October 2025. Nolan’s mother recently conveyed to me that she wanted to help with the fundraising efforts for our former Chosen brothers, as she knows it’s what Nolan cared about most and would want. She has sent me one of his patches in order to do so.
So in the short time I have left here, I will be extending/adding a second, separate segment to the fundraiser for all of our former Chosen brothers on behalf of Nolan, his mother, and his family. I won’t put a limit or a goal on this new fundraising effort in order to allow Nolan (in spirit) and his family to help raise as much as possible in the time I have left here before returning to work.
The fundraising on behalf of Nolan and his family starts now. Top bidder/donator will receive Nolan’s patch sent to me by his mother, along with another Chosen-era 59th Brigade patch. Love and gratitude to Nolan’s mother and family, and to all of you who support us. RIP Nolan Durie. Heroyam Slava.
Bids/donations can be sent to:
-PayPal: https://t.co/z5h8ivzble
-Venmo: @floridasoldat
-CashApp: $floridahacker
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#NAFO #OFAN #Fella #Fellas #Fellarina #Fellarinas #Ukraine #UkraineWar #ChosenCompany #3AB #Nolan #NolanDurie #SlavaUkraini #HeroyamSlava