Death of Filipino in Russia-Ukraine war sparks fears of forced recruitment

The first documented case of a Filipino man who died fighting alongside Russian forces in the Ukraine war has raised concerns in the Philippines over coerced recruitment and sparked calls for compensation from Moscow.In a report released on Monday, Ukraine’s intelligence operations identified the body of John Patrick, a Filipino national, among Russian troops killed near the village of Novoselivka in the Donetsk region, marking the first such report of its kind.Kyiv officials said Patrick’s body was found with only a weapon, ammunition and a scrap of paper bearing unit and phone numbers, as well as his commander’s name, with details indicating he did not speak Russian.Three selfies retrieved from Patrick’s mobile phone and posted by Ukraine show him wearing a hooded military jacket in a pixelated camouflage pattern. Other data retrieved from his electronic devices indicate his basic training lasted only a week before he was sent to the front line.Patrick is believed to have died from his injuries in a forest belt, with no evacuation planned.People stand by a crater left in an area hit by an air attack in Zaporizhzhia on Wednesday, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Photo: AFPObservers say the Philippine national may have been motivated by financial compensation.