The Netherlands ( Europe Brief News): The Dam Square stabbing suspect, identified as Ukrainian deserter Roman D., allegedly committed the act to secure imprisonment in the European Union.
An investigation by the Dutch public broadcaster NOS’s current affairs show “Nieuwsuur” makes this clear. In March, the man attacked five individuals in Amsterdam, Netherlands.
Five people were hurt on March 27 after a man stabbed them with a knife. The 73-year-old Belgian woman is one of the casualties.
The suspect’s identity as a 30-year-old Ukrainian from the Donetsk region was quickly established. The motive was still a secret from the police.
More information is currently being released by NOS’s current affairs show “Nieuwsuur.” Roman D., for instance, allegedly served in the Ukrainian army and deserted while on leave.
According to discussions ‘Nieuwsuur has had with a number of the man’s former coworkers, he had already stated his desire to be imprisoned in Europe before his departure.
Mother’s motivation is a mystery.
Mom says ‘Nieuwsuur’ that she doesn’t know Roman D.’s motivation.
“He did well in school, had no bad friends.”
The Czech Republic is where she resides. About three years ago, following the Russian invasion, she relocated there.
The current affairs program also spoke to several colleagues of Roman D. It appears that he had told them that he “wanted to kill someone in Norway, because he could go to prison there and be cared for the rest of his life,” it sounds. The country is known for its progressive prison system.
“He studied laws of different countries to understand how he could get a life sentence,”
says former commander Yuri Maljoeta. Neither Maljoeta nor the other soldiers took his remark seriously.
It’s unclear why Roman D. thought these things. He is characterized as “withdrawn, provocative, and changeable” by his coworkers. In ‘Nieuwsuur,’ one witness claimed to have “become fascinated by Elon Musk and bitcoins.”
In 2023, the soldier suffered a severe concussion after a grenade impact.
“He said he had suffered a severe blow. He often suffered from dizziness,”
it sounds. It is not clear whether that incident had an effect.
In addition to interviewing witnesses, “Nieuwsuur” looks into the suspect’s online history. Although there aren’t many online traces of him, the journalists do find a profile of the Ukrainian on VKontakte, which is essentially the Russian version of Facebook.
He used a photograph of Hitler as a youngster as his profile image in 2016, but according to a colleague, “that’s a joke,” which “completely suits his style, a provocation.”
The number ‘1488’ is also part of his Telegram account. The digit ’88’ is frequently linked to neo-Nazis. It means “Heil Hitler” and represents the eighth letter of the alphabet.
Early in July, the suspected Ukrainian will appear in court.
How does the suspect’s background as a Ukrainian deserter relate to his actions?
The suspect’s history as a Ukrainian deserter offers crucial background information for comprehending his behavior.
On the front lines, a lot of Ukrainian troops who fled had to deal with terrible circumstances like low morale, familial demands, and psychological damage. Some deserters reportedly preferred incarceration or exile than continuing their duty in order to escape the brutal and uncertain reality of combat.
In this instance, the suspect allegedly desired to be imprisoned in Europe, indicating that his desertion was driven by a desire to completely leave the battle zone in addition to avoiding fighting.
Among Ukrainian deserters, who frequently endure extreme stress, disillusionment, and a desire for safety and routine outside of the battle, this is consistent with larger trends.
