Finnish volunteer fighter Ville Mykkänen killed in Ukraine conflict

A Finnish volunteer fighter, Ville Mykkänen, 26, has been reported killed in Ukraine, according to the organization Veterans of War. Mykkänen, hailing from Northern Ostrobothnia, died in early August in the Luhansk region, making him the fifth known Finnish volunteer soldier to have died in Ukraine.

Mykkänen previously served as the chairman of the Central Youth of Northern Ostrobothnia. His journey began in politics but ultimately led him to enlist as a soldier in Ukraine in late 2023. The Russian invasion had drawn Mykkänen’s attention to the real battle for peace and freedom, the organization stated.

“He had a strong determination to defend a free nation. Ultimately, under the combat name ‘Flurry’, he made the greatest sacrifice anyone can make by losing his life for freedom,” the statement from the organization read.