Some ex-combatants of “Donbas” and “Aidar” battalions, and some other officials came to unveil the monument. The ceremony took place August 19 near Askold grave in Kyiv. The monument was established at the place of burial of Mark Paslavsky.
The 55-year-old soldier Mark Paslawsky, an investment banker and U.S. Army veteran, was found killed in the battle in the town of Ilovaisk, which lasted for 3 weeks and 5 days and brought struggle and bloodshed, taking hundreds of lives. Known by the codename “Franko”, died from major injuries August 19. He was Ukrainian, born in America, and American, who got Ukrainian citizenship so he could fight in Donbas battalion. Mark Paslawsky was born in New Jersey; he graduated from U.S. Military Academy and moved to Ukraine in 1990s. When the conflict on the eastern border of the country erupted rapidly, he joined the volunteer Donbas battalion.