Traditions one of several expert-Russian competitors consuming the fresh ДЊeДЌen Еѕene osobe new Donbas area for Ukraine are a former American soldier, Colorado local Russell Bentley.

Given the codename “Texas” immediately following joining new , Bentley ran viral the 2009 times having sharing video footage off themselves on “leading line” with Russian soldiers marching from the Donbas.

Once the guy caught the eye of people on the internet, Newsweek exclusively spoke so you can Bentley about precisely how men out-of Austin-a self-proclaimed former “surfer, beach boy-particular people”-finished up flying so you can Ukraine to participate and you will fight with this new Donetsk Mans Republic (DPR).

Bentley’s travel to Ukraine

For the March, the world checked towards the just like the Russian pushes already been related the latest border from Ukraine. For weeks Russian authorities got refused plans to reside, but Bentley although some from inside the DPR know that was upcoming.

“It wasn’t a surprise to me. It actually was a surprise to numerous idiots one consider by themselves, you realize, geopolitical analysts from the Western,” Bentley informed Newsweek. “30 days before individuals were ridiculing me to own saying: ‘Hey, you know what? Now they mean business.'”

Bentley, a personal-proclaimed communist, very first place base into the Donetsk towards the , but his coming into the Ukraine is lengthy coming.

He had been produced with the an effective “wealthy, really upper-middle-group relatives” within the Highland Park, Dallas, Colorado, good “really elitist” area, centered on Bentley. As an earlier people the guy offered on U.S. Military, purchasing ten years located in Germany and you will traveling “extensively” across Europe.

He had been an excellent demolition expert and you may handle engineer just before being supplied a keen respectable discharge. 자세히 보기