Foreign Fighter Disemboweled, Abandoned by Ukraine

Hello, my name is Aidan Walsh and I am fundraising for a man by the name of Maxime Leconte.

A few weeks ago, I was tasked with a project for a public speaking class that I was in to give a persuasive speech about something I am genuinely passionate about. I am passionate about supporting Ukraine. One of the requirements of the speech was that we needed to interview someone who was involved in our topic.

I was excited because I have always been interested in the study of war and journalism. An independent journalist that I follow known as Nicholas Laidlaw gathers incredible firsthand accounts of those that have been affected by modern and ongoing conflicts. This is where I came across Maxime's story:

“We spread out a little to take as much area as possible. We take out our shovels and start digging to protect ourselves from artillery fire. The night passes to the sound of artillery, the enemy tanks pass on the road 20 meters behind us without spotting us. In the early morning, the relief must be done.

The Ukrainian team is arriving to help. I go to tell my squad who were on my right. On the way back to my position, I hear an RPG shot. I am hit, I fall instantly, I understand that I need help quickly. I scream, ‘Help I’m hit!’ and at the same time I look at my abdomen.

I see my intestines outside of me. I understand that I was disemboweled and that my left leg was broken. I try to collect my intestines. When my squad arrived, I saw professional soldiers. Everyone knew what they had to do. My friend put a plastic bag around my intestines, they took out the stretcher, put me on it and off we went.

1km5 of walking with me on this stretcher weighing 90kg. I held the bag with all my intestines while they carried me. I didn’t even have pain in my abdomen, but my leg hurt. My comrades suffered from the long journey.

At times, I thought I was going to die, I asked my comrades to finish me off. Fortunately, they motivated me and made me realize that I was going to survive. The closer we got to the extraction point, the more we took artillery fire.

Once in position, while waiting for the vehicle, my comrades put me in a hole. I think it saved my life, because artillery fire fell about 20 meters next to me. Which would have killed me straight away if was exposed. Once the vehicle arrived, they put me there directly with 3 other wounded.

Now I have been hospitalized for 25 days. My healing is going badly, my abdomen is open, I have two intestinal pockets that will follow me for 6 months. And my broken hip was repaired with screws. But I wouldn’t be able to walk for several months.”(Documented by Nick Laidlaw, August 1st, 2023).

After reading this Incredible story, I knew that I needed to interview Maxime for my project, and out of all of the Ukrainian fighters I reached out to, he gave me by far the most descriptive and in-depth responses to my questions. Even after I was done with my project, I stayed in contact with Maxime because I had gotten to know him well enough to consider him my friend. I learned who he was personally, I learned that before the full-scale invasion, he was an educator for migrants in France, many of whom had experienced the horrors of war. I would keep asking questions due to my true curiosity about his experiences. I genuinely care for his health and well-being.

Based on what I have learned from Max, I can firmly say that he did not go to Ukraine as someone seeking the "adventure" or "glory" of war. He knows that war has nowhere near the amount of romance that is portrayed in movies and pop culture. He rather went because he cared for the innocent people being attacked.

When I asked Maxime to explain his situation for people reading this fundraiser he said:

"So before leaving for Ukraine, I was an educator for migrants that were minors and alone. I took care of them every day for 2 years. following the end of my contract, I joined the regular Ukrainian army, in the 5th separate assault brigade. I was injured on July 4 during a mission to retake the heights of Klishchiivka. I received an RPG shot, the rocket itself passed through my abdomen, tearing me open and exploding my pelvis. As of today, I no longer have any muscle in the left side of my abdomen, my fractured pelvis will take about 4 years to fully recover, and my colon is no longer in my abdomen. I can no longer work at the moment, I am extremely tired, I have pain that cannot be calmed. and all movements are difficult as the abdominal chain is very damaged."

As made obvious by this, Maxime cannot work. He has run out of money and has no way of supporting himself. Ukraine cut off Maxime's salary, and since he is not a Ukrainian citizen, he cannot receive certain benefits that wounded Ukrainian nationals do. I would also like to say that Maxime has a life-threatening bone infection due to his wounds.

This is a man that has left his home country in order to help those of another. Imagine if Maxime was your son, brother, or father.

Every cent donated will go directly towards Maxime and supporting him adjust to this new period in this life where he cannot work and make money for himself. He told me that the biggest mental challenge is that he cannot continue to defend Ukraine.

Any donation is much appreciated. If a donation is not possible it is understandable, but at least spread the word of this fundraiser. Thank You.

-Aidan Walsh and Maxime Leconte