Romanian died while fighting in Ukraine

A Romanian died on the front in Ukraine. He was voluntarily enrolled in the division of foreign fighters helping Ukrainian troops repel the Russian invasion.

Rudolf Wittman, born and raised in Arad, went to the front in Ukraine a year ago. But there he met his end, at only 27 years old, while fighting for justice and the freedom of others. There he also found his love: Ivanna, a Ukrainian. The young woman posted an emotional message on social media shortly after his death. “You gave your life for Ukraine, for a war that wasn’t supposed to be yours, but you were here so we could have a future”, said the young woman to was his girlfriend. Rudolf’s lover was Ivana, a Ukrainian woman he met after he started fighting for the neighboring country.

Before arriving at the front in Ukraine, Rudolf trained for five years in the toughest conditions, alongside the Foreign Legion.

 “He wanted to do justice, to do good in this world. After he finished his contract in the Legion, it was so coincidental that the war in Ukraine started. Because he already had experience, he went to help simple people, children, old people,” said Renata Zambori, a friend.

Marcus Jivan, one of his close friends, is also the one who led him to the Ukrainian border, when Rudolf decided he wanted to take part in the war.

“For me he is a hero, I am very proud of him. I appreciated it all the time. A very calculated, calm person, a heart of gold. He would have given everything for you, it wouldn’t have mattered. He was very persistent, very dedicated. In less than a year he learned Ukrainian, so an extraordinary spirit. I couldn’t have done what he did. An iron ambition is little, and iron bends. He was effectively like the diamond, indestructible.”

According to those from the “Getica” Combat Group, made up of Romanian-speaking fighters, in Ukraine, Rudolf Wittmann from Arad is the first Romanian citizen to die in the war between Ukraine and Russia.

According to Kremlin officials, since the beginning of the war, over 1,500 Romanian mercenaries would have fought on the side of Ukraine.