Today at 15:45
Matthew Sampson – Fighting In Bakhmut, Advocating in Washington.
A man who knows what it takes to fight in the trenches of Bakhmut and advocating Ukraine in Washington DC, leaving his fingerpints on 60 Billion USD Aid Package – interview with Matthew Sampson, the US Marine Scout Sniper.
— Last time we spoke in February, you mentioned that you were leaving for America the following day for about two or three months.
— Yes, I spent about half a year there—much longer than expected. There was a lot more happening than I initially thought. I was advocating for Ukraine, which was my main reason for going back. I also had some family issues that came up.
— Can you tell us more about that?
— Yes, unfortunately, part of the reason for going home was that my mother’s health had worsened. She had been battling cancer for some time, and I wanted to be there.
— My condolences.
— Thank you. Shortly after I returned to the U.S., I went to visit her in the hospital, but she passed away 40 minutes before I arrived. I didn’t get to say goodbye, and it had been three years since I had last seen her.
— I’m really sorry to hear that. What about your father?
— My father passed away in 2009, the day I went to Afghanistan. He also died of cancer. My mother was the only parent I had left at the time.
— That’s tough. I’m truly sorry. But you’ve made sacrifices, and so have many Ukrainians in this war.
— Yes, Ukrainians have sacrificed so much more, losing loved ones to bullets, bombs, and explosions. While my parents’ illnesses were expected, what’s happening here is tragic and much more sudden for families.
— I’ve noticed your bracelets—are those for your brothers-in-arms?
— Yes, they are. These bracelets are for two men I worked with who were killed in Bakhmut in 2023. One was a U.S. Navy SEAL, and the other was a Ukrainian-Canadian. Both were honorable men, and they’re deeply missed.
— Thank you for sharing that. What else were you doing while in the U.S.?
— Most of my time—about 80%—was spent advocating for Ukraine. I traveled over 20,000 miles (32,000 kilometers) to speak with Americans about the war, both politicians and regular citizens. I also tried fundraising, but that didn’t go too well.
— What happened?
— For example, at one fundraiser in Reno, Nevada, I ended up with $70 and a free Coke, which didn’t even cover the fuel costs. Many Americans don’t realize the war is still going on, and there’s a lot of misinformation about Ukraine.
— What kind of misinformation?
— Some people think Zelenskyy is pocketing aid money, but I explained that most aid comes in the form of equipment, not cash, and any cash is monitored very strictly.
— What can the average American do to help Ukraine?
— They can donate to people like me or contact their representatives in Congress to support aid for Ukraine. It’s essential to keep the U.S. and Europe out of a world war by pushing back against Russia’s aggression.
— How can people find you online?
— Just Google “Matthew Samson Ukraine,” and most of what comes up will be me. My website and fundraising links are there.
— I saw you met passionate volunteers in Poland last week. Can you tell us more?
— Yes, I met a group in Poland who make camouflage netting for Ukrainian forces. They’re all volunteers, mainly Ukrainians, and they do amazing work to support the front lines.
— Going back to the front lines, there’s a lot of talk about Ukrainian advances. What’s your take on that?
— It’s been almost 100 years since Russia was invaded, and this shows how organized and capable Ukraine’s military is when given the weapons and ammo they need.
— What’s next? Moscow or something else?
— [Laughs] Maybe Moscow, but seriously, advancing too close to Moscow could escalate into nuclear conflict, which we want to avoid at all costs.
— What would you do if you were the general commander of the Ukrainian Armed Forces?
— I’d focus on educating the people helping us, especially about the misinformation they’re receiving. Education is crucial in gaining more support for Ukraine’s cause.
Read also: What Triggered Putin – Why You Should Not Care. Interview with Andrius Kubilius.
