Murray, an American, had experience in the U.S. Airborne Forces and operations in Afghanistan in the early 2000s.

He decided to join the DIU’s International Legion in the summer of 2022. He participated in many combat operations, including in eastern and southern Ukraine.

“I remember fighting in Kherson. We were on a mission there. And we had to get to our position by boat, and then we had to go back down the river. And the boat started leaking. We could not swim in it by ourselves, so we threw our equipment in it, just held on to it and swam [on our own]. It was at night, the russians were shooting at the canal where we were. It seemed as if the whole bank was on fire, as if torches were flying overhead. It was surreal,” – the intelligence man recalled one of the combat episodes.

Murray was awarded the Order of Bohdan Khmelnytskyi for special courage and professionalism in battles with the russian occupants. President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyi presented the high award.

Later, the legionnaire became one of the foreign warriors who received a Ukrainian passport.

“If you want to get citizenship, it should be a goal for the sake of the cause. You should be here because you want to help Ukraine, you want to fight with professionals and gain experience,” – Murray said.

He plans to stay in Ukraine and learn Ukrainian.

“I have so many friends here, both foreigners and Ukrainians. I am really building my life here,” – said the intelligence officer.