Members of the Ukrainian community in Ireland have said they still hope an Irish man (20) missing in eastern Ukraine can be found alive.

Alex Ryzhuk from Rathmines in south Dublin was officially deemed missing in action by the Ukrainian military while serving on the frontline in the war against Russia earlier this month.

The former Synge Street CBS pupil, an Irish citizen born to Ukrainian parents, had travelled to Ukraine to join the Ukrainian Foreign Legion after turning 18.

According to a Ukrainian medic familiar with the incident, Mr Ryzhuk, who went by the name “Irlandets” (“Irishman” in Ukrainian), may have been hit by a Russian drone.

Mr Ryzhuk’s family and girlfriend have been informed that he is officially missing, pending confirmation of his death.

Mariya Starukh from the Association of Ukrainians in the Republic of Ireland said news that Mr Ryzhuk was missing was very sad news, particularly as the local community prepares to mark Ukraine independence day this weekend.

She said with the current situation many Ukrainians living in Ireland hear regularly about loved ones going missing, and it can be very difficult to get updates and developments from Ukraine where the fighting is taking place.

“It is hard to explain just how that feels,” she told the PA news agency.

Clare Catterson – principal of Synge Street school, where Mr Ryzhuk attended from 2016 to 2021 – said it was “very sad to hear news of such a young man going missing. We hope he can be found”.

There had been great shock in the school community when word came through of the situation, she said.

Many teachers had contacted her, in shock and sadness as they all remembered the “young man who was just three short years ago walking these corridors in a school uniform with a smile on his face and wanting to help in any way he could”.

“He always wanted to help others, that was a very strong trait. He had himself involved in all aspects of school life. He was on the judo team, the basketball team. He loved volleyball.

“He was very proud of his Ukrainian heritage. He was bilingual. We’ve always been a very multinational, diverse school here in Synge Street, very reflective of the city centre,” Ms Catterson said.

She added it was an “unbelieviable thing to happen to one so young who had so much to give.”

In an interview with The Irish Times in May, Mr Ryzhuk said that after training in Kyiv, he joined the 3rd Separate Assault Brigade, which has gained a reputation as an elite force and a large public following due to its presence in the hardest battles of the war. He was then deployed with the unit to Bakhmut, Avdiivka and Kharkiv.

In a video posted on the Butusov Plus YouTube channel on March 23rd, he is seen speaking in Ukrainian in a military bunker in eastern Ukraine. In the video Mr Ryzhuk and other soldiers can be seen directing drones against Russian troops from the bunker.

Also in the video, he says his parents confiscated his Irish passport in an attempt to stop him travelling to Ukraine, but he says he applied for a new one and went to Ukraine to join the Ukrainian Foreign Legion when he turned 18. “I tricked my parents a bit. I hope they will forgive me,” he says.

The Ukrainian embassy in Dublin said “we have been in touch with authorities in Ukraine and can confirm that the person in question is missing in action. I am afraid this is all that we have at the moment.”

A Young Man With a Smile and a Desire to Help

The news of Mr Ryzhuk's disappearance has sent shockwaves through the Synge Street school community. His former teachers remember him as a young man with a bright smile and a willingness to help others. He was involved in many aspects of school life, including the judo and basketball teams, and he loved volleyball. He was particularly known for his love of Halloween, always dressing up in elaborate costumes for the annual school event.

A Strong Ukrainian Heritage

Mr Ryzhuk, who was bilingual in Ukrainian and English, was proud of his heritage and would often speak about visiting relatives in Ukraine during the summer holidays. He was a dedicated student who excelled in business subjects, including accounting, economics, and business. He had aspirations of studying law after leaving school.

A Hero Lost Too Soon

Mr Ryzhuk's story is a reminder of the human cost of the war in Ukraine. A young man with a bright future, he answered the call to defend his homeland. The news of his presumed death is a heartbreaking reminder of the sacrifices made by those who fight for freedom and democracy. We can only hope that his memory will serve as an inspiration to us all.