The U.S. Navy confirmed that a member of its elite SEAL force has been killed in eastern Ukraine, but said that Naval Special Warfare Operator Daniel Swift held “active deserter status".
“Former Navy SEAL Daniel W. Swift has been killed in Ukraine, a Navy official told NBC News.
Swift had been in active deserter status since March 11th, 2019, the Navy Absentee Collection and Information Center said.
The center said it did not know why Swift was in the eastern European country that has been at war with Russia for a year.
Swift was a special warfare operator 1st Class and enlisted in the Navy on June 28th, 2005.
His service record shows that he received numerous medals and awards including the Legion of Merit, the Navy/Marine Corps Commendation Medal, and the National Defense Service Medal.
Swift is the sixth American known to have died fighting in Ukraine, according to State Department statements and reports from individual families”. -Mosheh Gains and Minyvonne Burke, NBC News
“Active deserter status” appears as if it's code for a covert operative whose cover gets blown.
Swift is the sixth United States citizen to be confirmed killed in Ukraine by the State Department.
U.S. soldiers have likely been fighting in Ukraine against Russia for a while now. It wouldn’t come as much of a surprise to discover that there are many more “active deserters” who have been operating as foreign mercenaries throughout Ukraine.