John Ashton-Cirillo, an American man who goes by the name Sarah, was suspended as an English-speaking spokesman for Ukraine's Territorial Defense Forces (TDF) after posting a video in which he threatened to "hunt down" Russian propagandists.
This Wednesday, the Territorial Defense Forces Command reported through a statement published on its social media that Junior Sergeant Ashton-Cirillo was removed from his position while an official investigation is carried out into statements he gave that were not approved by senior officers.
1/3 Statement of the Command of the Territorial Defense Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine regarding some statements of the spokesperson of the TDF, Junior Sergeant Sarah Ashton-Cirillo
— Ukraine Territorial Defense Forces (@TDF_UA) September 20, 2023
“The command of the TDF will conduct an official investigation into the circumstances of these statements. Appropriate decisions would be taken. Sergeant Sarah Ashton-Cirillo will be suspended immediately pending the investigation,” they announced.
The TDF also took advantage of ensuring that the Ukrainian defense forces respects the norms of international humanitarian law. “The statements of Junior Sergeant Ashton-Cirillo in recent days were not approved by the command of the TDF or the command (...)When conducting military operations against the aggressor, the defense forces of Ukraine strictly observe the norms of international humanitarian law.”
3/3 The command of the TDF will conduct an official investigation into the circumstances of these statements. Appropriate decisions would be taken.
Sergeant Sarah Ashton-Cirillo will be suspended immediately pending the investigation.— Ukraine Territorial Defense Forces (@TDF_UA) September 20, 2023
Ashton-Cirillo's statements
When the transgender soldier was chosen as the TDF's English-speaking spokesperson, Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Malyar praised Ashton-Cirillo for “objectively covers the events of the Russian-Ukrainian war,” debunking Russian forgeries and propaganda. However, last week the soldier posted a video making statements about how Russian “criminal propagandists” would be pursued and justice would be served.
“Next week, the teeth of the Russian devils will gnash ever harder, and their rabid mouths will foam in an uncontrollable frenzy as the world will see a favored Kremlin propagandist pay for their crimes. And this puppet of Putin is only the first. Russia's war criminal propagandists will all be hunted down, and justice will be served as we in Ukraine are led on this mission by faith in God, liberty and complete liberation,” he stated.
Since there are several people asking for this video and many discussing it on Telegram and across social media channels, here is my latest episode of Russia Hates the Truth.
The russians and their supporters are gnashing their teeth as predicted.
— Sarah Ashton-Cirillo (Ukrainian TDF Media) (@SarahAshtonLV) September 13, 2023
Does the Ashton-Cirillo threat extend to the West?
Shortly after the video was published, the famous political commentator, Charlie Kirk, opined that Ashton-Cirillo's post was actually directed “towards the West,” suggesting that he was also referring to Americans who have criticized Ukraine or the aid the United States gives to the country.
.@charliekirk11 on Volodymyr Zelenskyy: "The gangster is coming back to extort more American politicians to try to get us further into a no-win war." pic.twitter.com/AF53AP67rB
— Human Events (@HumanEvents) September 15, 2023
Kirk's suspicions are also supported by another video in which Ashton-Cirillo stated that for him Russian propagandists and war criminals "who are spreading lies and using false narratives," "information agents and an extension of the Putin-Prigozhin effort to spread chaos and wreak havoc across the globe."
After being swamped with Russian lies, a sitting US Senator questioned my role in Ukraine.
Below is my response.
First though, I asked for the expedited delivery of ATACMS from the United States.
Watch below:
— Sarah Ashton-Cirillo (Ukrainian TDF Media) (@SarahAshtonLV) September 18, 2023
