KUALA LUMPUR: Federal police have confirmed that a Malaysian whose personal documents were reportedly discovered on a battlefield in Ukraine has been identified as a mercenary.
Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Razarudin Husain said that investigations revealed the 20-year-old man was alive and well.
"We launched an investigation as soon as images of his documents went viral on social media recently. The man has been in Ukraine since April and had undergone military training," he said when contacted today.
Razarudin said that the man joined the Ukraine conflict due to a strong interest in the military, earning between US$400 (RM1,700) and US$2,700 (RM12,000) per month, depending on the level of danger on the battlefield.
"Our findings suggest he may have been pressured by family circumstances, which contributed to his decision to stay abroad."
The man sustained an injury after being hit by drone shrapnel but managed to escape, losing his documents in the process.
He added that he was believed to be the only Malaysian serving in the Ukrainian military and had applied for the mercenary role online.
"He also informed his family that he was hesitant to return to Malaysia, and said that other foreign nationals are also serving as mercenaries in Ukraine," said Razarudin.
Previously, images circulated on social media purportedly showing a MyKad and Malaysian driving licence found after Russian forces captured a Ukrainian military base in Levadne, Zaporizhia.
These images included claims that they belonged to a Malaysian citizen, though it remains unclear if the individual was killed or detained by Russian forces.
One image shows a Malaysian driving licence valid until February 2025, with an address in the northern state of Peninsular Malaysia.
Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir was reported as saying that his ministry was also gathering information on allegations involving a Malaysian student, whose MyKad and Malaysian driving licence were reportedly found on a battlefield in Ukraine.
