Police confirm Malaysian mercenary in Ukraine injured but survives Russian drone strike

MALAYSIA: A 20-year-old Malaysian man fighting as a mercenary in the ongoing Ukraine-Russia conflict was injured but survived a Russian drone strike in October, Malaysian Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Razarudin Husain confirmed on Monday (4 November).

The man, identified as Lee Bing Hang from Kedah, was reportedly wounded in his ankle by shrapnel during the attack.

According to Razarudin, intelligence indicates that Lee had applied online to join the Ukrainian military and has been actively involved in combat since April.

Razarudin also noted, as reported by Malaysian state media Bernama, that Lee is Malaysia’s only known mercenary in Ukraine.

Intelligence gathered by Malaysian authorities suggests that Lee initially travelled to the United Kingdom in March before he went on to join the Ukrainian forces.

Lee’s interest in military activities reportedly led him to this path.

“He had an interest in the military and was offered a salary ranging from US$400 (RM1,749) to US$2,700 (RM11,807), depending on the level of danger in the war zone,” Razarudin said.

The Inspector-General added that Lee distanced himself from his family and actively sought overseas work opportunities.

While retreating from the Russian strike, Lee allegedly lost key identification documents, including his MyKad (Malaysian identity card) and Malaysian driving licence, according to Malaysian intelligence.

These documents were reportedly found in Levadne, a town in Ukraine’s Zaporizhia region, after Russian forces captured a Ukrainian position.

This discovery initially prompted Malaysian authorities to verify the claims surrounding the documents.

Malaysian mercenaries in the 16th Ukrainian Rifle Battalion isolated case,
As Malaysians, we do not support any war, but in the Russia Ukraine conflict, our views are different by siding with Russia. https://t.co/EboiJwR01A pic.twitter.com/gHmf5syitZ

— Samcoach (@SamcoachAdam) November 1, 2024

Despite this setback, Razarudin confirmed that Lee still possesses his passport, allowing him to remain mobile.

Lee had previously completed his A-Levels at a private college in Petaling Jaya, Malaysia, and he has limited social media activity, with no verified social media presence.

According to the Inspector-General, Lee instead invested his time in online war-based gaming, which may have influenced his interest in combat.

Investigations reveal that Lee joined the Ukrainian forces through an official online recruitment process facilitated by the Ukrainian military.

The Ukrainian armed forces have openly recruited foreign fighters as part of their resistance efforts, and Lee’s application through their website resulted in his enlistment.

Malaysian authorities have been closely monitoring the case, given its unusual nature.

Razarudin said, “Lee did not plan to return home,” suggesting that the young mercenary is committed to remaining in Ukraine.

In January, Ukraine National Resistance Centre reports Malaysian mercenaries in conflict-ridden Donetsk region

In January 2024, the Ukraine National Resistance Centre (NRCU) has disclosed the presence of Malaysian mercenaries in Ukraine’s eastern Donetsk region, an area then controlled by Russian forces and their allies.

NRCU reported that mercenaries from Malaysia, accompanied by a translator, as well as former “Wagner” member have been spotted in the temporarily occupied territories of Donetsk region.

In a stern warning, the National Resistance Centre declared that individuals aligning with Russian forces against Ukraine become military targets.