Hopes fade for return of remains of Mayo man who died on the frontline in Ukraine

Finbar Cafferkey died while providing support to Ukraine in the war with Russia.

placeholder image — Finbar Cafferkey died while providing support to Ukraine in the war with Russia.

Two years on from the start of war in Ukraine, TG4 documentary looks at the story behind Achill native Finbar Cafferkey

Two years on from the Russian invasion of Ukraine, a TG4 documentary 'Caillte san Úcráin' (Lost in Ukraine) investigates the story of Achill Island native, Finbar Cafferkey, who died on the frontline in Ukraine.

The current affairs documentary, is presented by investigative journalist, Kevin Magee, who travels to war-torn Ukraine to find out more about the circumstances surrounding the death of Mr Cafferkey, 45, who was killed while trying to secure a crucial supply line in the battle for Bakhmut on April 19 last year. The documentary examines the reasons behind his decision to enlist in a fighting unit in Ukraine and shows the impact of his passing on his family in Achill Island.

Mr Cafferkey died in a Russian mortar strike along with two other foreign fighters, former US Marine veteran Cooper Andrews (26), from Ohio, and Russian anarchist Dmitriy Petrov. Mr Cafferkey and Mr Petrov had previously fought with the YPG, a left-wing Kurdish militia who fought against the Islamic state in northern Syria.

Kevin travelled to the city of Lviv in western Ukraine, and tracked down a former female volunteer solider who trained alongside Mr Cafferkey and was due to take part in the same ill-fated mission. Other Ukrainian frontline soldiers interviewed for the documentary tell of the difficulties serving in the Bakhmut region where Mr Cafferkey was killed.

It was previously reported that Finbar Cafferkey’s remains had been recovered from the battlefield and were awaiting a positive identification, but following inquiries made in the TG4 programme, Mr Cafferkey has now been officially re-classified as “missing-in-action”; without his remains being recovered.

A Ukrainian solider who was wounded fighting at the in frontline near Bakhmut and is currently being treated for his injuries in Lviv, told Kevin Magee in the programme, about the problems recovering the bodies of fallen Ukrainian soldiers from the battlefield where Finbar Cafferkey was killed.

‘It’s almost impossible to do that, and we even had cases where we had a so-called agreement between Russian troops and our allocation team was entering to pick up the bodies, and they were immediately shot,” said Andrii, 39, who served with a special forces unit on the Ukrainian front line near Bakhmut.

“Only in some rare cases where the commanders of units from both sides have an agreement is it possible to recover bodies but in general it’s very, very, very difficult,” he said.  

Andrii, who declined to give his surname for security reasons, said the area where Mr Cafferkey is missing near Bakhmut is now controlled by Russian forces.

“The situation in the Bakhmut region is always quite difficult because the enemy is much better equipped with heavy weapons, drones, artillery and number of troops, so it’s pretty tough fighting there. When you fight there it’s non-stop strikes and shelling,” he said.

Ukrainian ambassador to Ireland Laryso Gerasko, also speaking on the programme, dismissed earlier reports that Mr Cafferkey’s body has been recovered and was awaiting identification in a morgue.

“I have some information from our Minister of Defence. His body hasn't been identified yet, and he’s missing in action. Unfortunately, I don't have anymore information except that.

“We are on to our authorities to find his body and to identify him but that is without success unfortunately. It's our duty to find not only the bodies of foreigners, but Ukrainians as well, but it's very difficult in such a brutal war,” said Ms Gerasko.

Finbar Cafferkey was the eldest in a family of five children and grew up in Cashel on the east side of Achill Island. His parents Tom and Celine, sisters Méadhbh and Orla and brother Colm take part in the documentary.

‘Caillte san Úcráin’ from TG4’s award winning current affairs strand Iniúchadh TG4, airs on Wednesday, February 28 at 9.30pm and on TG4.ie