Two Quebecers become the latest Canadian foreign fighters to die in the Ukraine-Russia war

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A navy unit of international fighters within the Ukrainian struggle had taken up covert missions in opposition to Russia when its Canadian commander was killed, says a researcher who research struggle within the former Soviet Union.

Jean-Francois Ratelle, who led the Norman Brigade below the nom de guerre Hrulf, was one in every of two Canadians to die inside the previous month combating for Ukraine.

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A global research professor on the College of Ottawa, additionally referred to as Jean-Francois Ratelle, mentioned the Norman Brigade seems to have shifted from occupying defence roles — holding battle strains — to actions exterior the entrance strains. Ratelle, who research international fighters, is just not associated to the deceased soldier of the identical title.

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“From what we are able to inform, much more covert actions, issues that had been behind enemy strains, quite a bit much less of holding the strains and the standard infantry battles within the cities,” Ratelle mentioned in an interview Monday concerning the Norman Brigade’s altering duties within the struggle.

“Plainly they become an asset for the Ukrainian navy intelligence.”

World Affairs Canada mentioned it’s conscious of two Canadians who lately died whereas combating for Ukraine, bringing the whole quantity killed to 11 since Russia invaded in February 2022.

One other Quebecer, Alain Derasp, 49, died in Ukraine on Feb. 27, an obituary mentioned, describing him as a veteran of the Canadian Forces Royal twenty second Regiment and a father of 4.

Derasp had been offering first assist coaching to troopers in Ukraine and died after contracting an sickness close to the entrance strains, in accordance with a navy supply who requested to not be recognized as a result of they weren’t licensed to talk to the media.

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Luc Fortier, who served with Derasp within the Royal twenty second Regiment _ often known as the Van Doos — remembered him as cheerful, “however above all very devoted.”

The infantry is a brotherhood, Fortier mentioned, including that the sudden lack of Derasp is painful for the troopers he served with.

Born in Campbellton, N.B., Derasp joined the Canadian Forces in 1992. Throughout his 26-year profession, he was a part of a United Nations peacekeeping mission and three NATO missions, all within the former Yugoslavia, in addition to two missions in Afghanistan.

A warrant officer on the time of his retirement, Derasp lived in Chicoutimi, Que.

Ratelle, who was from was from Joliette, Que., was killed in fight, mentioned a Ukrainian pal, Anna Filippova. In a written message, Filippova mentioned she met him shortly after he arrived in Ukraine in March 2022.

“He was a real warrior, a completely unbreakable chief and warrior,” she mentioned. “He had spine, and ideas and he fearlessly pushed ahead to the objective it doesn’t matter what.”

The Division of Nationwide Defence mentioned it has information of somebody named Jean-Francois Ratelle who served as an artilleryman for 3 years. A pal mentioned he had later joined the French International Legion, and in footage posted on social media after his dying, he’s seen sporting the uniform of the famed French navy corps. The French navy didn’t reply to a request for remark.

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Chris Ecklund, a Hamilton businessman and philanthropist who has helped Canadians journey to Ukraine to battle — and who has spoken with Ratelle — described him as a devoted warrior.

“He was following the calling like a whole lot of different women and men from Canada and everywhere in the world,” Ecklund mentioned in an interview. “He believed within the trigger and he was principally making an attempt to assist out.”

Professor Ratelle mentioned that international fighters have performed an auxiliary function within the battle, and whereas they’ve participated in main battles, they’re typically used to carry battle strains, for cross-border raids and as decoys forward of counter-offensives by Ukrainian troops.

The Norman Brigade was fashioned early within the struggle, Ratelle mentioned, including that some members quickly left amid inside battle concerning the unit’s function. Whereas the unit has raised cash on-line, utilizing social media to advertise itself, it grew to become far more covert a couple of months into the struggle, he mentioned. Russian propaganda has claimed there’s a far-right ingredient to the unit, however Ratelle mentioned he hasn’t seen proof of that.

The deaths of the 2 Canadians had been initially reported by the Russian authorities in social media posts that included images of the lads and different private particulars. In a submit on the X platform, previously referred to as Twitter, the Russian embassy in South Africa described each males as “mercenaries” and mentioned Ratelle was killed by a drone strike.

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