Mike 🇮🇹🇪🇺🇺🇦

Alex Pineschi was a 42-year-old Italian volunteer and former Alpine soldier who was killed on May 23 near Lyman in the Donetsk region. He fought on Ukraine’s side as part of a specialized UAV operator unit. Long before the full-scale war in Ukraine, he had already left Italy and became one of the first Italian volunteers to fight in Iraqi Kurdistan alongside the Peshmerga against ISIS terrorists. He took part in the battles for Kirkuk and Mosul, later writing a book about his experiences. After returning to Italy, he founded the project APTAC Tactical Training, where he professionally trained people in tactical preparation, firearms discipline, and survival skills. He often emphasized that real combat experience is not a show for social media. When Russia launched its full-scale invasion in 2022, Pineschi publicly supported Ukraine, calling the war decisive for the freedom of all Europe. Soon after, he traveled to Ukraine and joined the fight on some of the hottest front lines in Donbas.