[imagesource: Majorca Daily Bulletin]

The 55-year-old Ukrainian man who attempted to sink the superyacht that belongs to Russian military weapons businessman Alexander Mijeev is taking the next step to defend his country from Russia’s invasion.

Taras Ostapchuk, who had worked on Mijeev’s Lady Anastasia superyacht for around 10 years as a chief engineer, trekked all the way back to his Ukraine so that he could “fight for my country”.

Ostapchuk was arrested in Spain after attempting to damage the €7 million (around R117 million) superyacht by flooding it, and according to The Independent, was released on detention with a charge.

It is unclear if his decision to go to Ukraine so soon after this is in violation of any court orders, but Ostapchuk has been nothing but adamant, patriotically claiming that he regrets nothing and would do it all over again:

“All Ukrainian citizens must be defenders of our fatherland because it is being subject to Russian aggression,” he said. “We must stop this war.”

Having taken a flight to Zurich on Monday and then to Warsaw, Poland, he was on the train to Kyiv by late Tuesday, where his son was waiting for him, reported Majorca Daily Bulletin:

He explained that he intended to contact a military commander and ask if they need him. “I said to myself: why do I need a job if I don’t have my country? It’s true that I had a good job as chief mechanic on the yacht and a good salary, but I’m going to fight for my country.

I’ve lost my job, but that’s not a problem. I will not lose my country. I am not a hero, I am an old man, but I have a lot of experience in mechanics. I have never picked up a gun, but if necessary I will. Why not?”

That picture above, as Spanish newspaper Ultima Hora reported, is of Ostapchuk in Ukraine.

He has been confirmed to be an official member of the Ukrainian army, uniformed and armed by his recruiting officer and ready to fight once given his orders:

Good luck out there, Ostapchuk.

Thanks, Mike

[sources:independent&majorcadailybulletin]