The Humanitarian Who Wasn’t: Under Cover of War

He arrived in Ukraine presenting himself as a humanitarian volunteer. But was he? And why could the answer matter far beyond the region?

by Susan Katz Keating

He arrived in Ukraine in 2024, presenting himself as a humanitarian volunteer. He joined a stream of foreigners moving through a country where the Red Cross, Caritas, and others were operating.

But something about this man drew scrutiny. Questions emerged about who he was, and why he was there.

At Soldier of Fortune, we have been following this and other trails as part of our continuing work on the people who move through wars, the identities they present, and the things that draw them to conflict zones.

READ MORE: War Predators in Ukraine: They Come to Study the Killing Fields

Earlier this year, we reported on outsiders who came to the country not to fight, but to watch. They moved through a battlefield where weapons, technology and tactics were being tested against a live enemy, gathering information about what worked and what did not. One source described Ukraine to us as “one big test lab.”

We have reported on smuggling, fixers, and the market in counterfeit press cards, which can provide access and credibility. There is much more to this.

READ MORE: Papers, Please: Buying Access to the War Zone

That brings us back to the humanitarian.

We first heard about him through a time-honored method: a confidential tip. We followed the tip, and followed the trail. As our reporting continued, the trail widened. New material reaching Soldier of Fortune has taken the investigation beyond one man and raised questions that extend far beyond the war where it began.

We are continuing to work the story with our correspondents and sources. More to come. As always, the Soldier of Fortune tip line is open.

Susan Katz Keating is the publisher and editor-in-chief of Soldier of Fortune Magazine.