Confirmation of the Loss

Yet another American has been killed in the ongoing war in Ukraine.

According to Newsweek, a US State Department spokesperson told them last Friday simply, “We can confirm the death of another US citizen in Ukraine. Out of respect for the privacy of the family, we have no further comment at this time.”

They went on to say, “We also once again reiterate US citizens should not travel to Ukraine due to the active armed conflict and the singling out of US citizens in Ukraine by Russian government security officials, and that US citizens in Ukraine should depart immediately if it is safe to do so using any commercial or other privately available ground transportation options.”

Typically, several Americans will travel to Ukraine during the upcoming Rosh Hashana holiday in late September. Hasidic Jews from many countries gather in the Ukrainian city of Uman to visit the tomb of Rabbi Nachman and celebrate the Jewish New Year.

Newsweek has also reported that last Friday, the governor of Russia’s Primorsky Krai region, Oleg Kozhemyako, posted on his Telegram channel that volunteer members of the “Tiger” Unit from his region took the life of a 24-year-old American in battle.

Positive Identification

The Russian News agency TASS and WREG News, Memphis, have identified that man as Joshua Alan Jones of Memphis, Tennessee.

Kozhemyako posted images of Jone’s Ukrainian identification papers and US passport on his Telegram channel. The document indicates that Jones had been affiliated with Ukraine’s armed forces since July 24th with the A344 military unit. Image Source: Telegram via @kozhemyakoofficial

The Russian governor wrote in his Telegram post:

“The first result of the “Tiger”! An American Mercenary was destroyed in Ukraine. And this is the first clash immediately after arriving at the front line! A trained group of mercenaries from different countries entered the positions of our volunteers. None of the seamen flinched. The attack was repulsed, the positions were defended.”