Brave soldier, aid worker and truth teller: Story of US-born Donbass volunteer Russell Bentley
Russell Bonner Bentley, known by his call sign "Texas," was a 64-year-old American from Texas who tragically passed away, as confirmed by his wife Lyudmila to Sputnik. He joined the Donbass militia in 2014, actively participating in defending the region's freedom against Ukrainian neo-Nazi forces.
Born into a well-to-do family in Dallas in 1960, Bentley's worldview was shaped by the Vietnam War, leading him to become an ardent anti-imperialist and anti-racist. His commitment to justice led him to the front lines of the conflict, where he fought alongside Donetsk and Lugansk freedom fighters.
Bentley's involvement extended beyond combat; he also worked as a Sputnik contributor. Through his reports, he provided firsthand insights into Russia's special military operation, the liberation of Mariupol, foreign mercenary forces in Ukraine, and the Kiev regime's intensified attacks on civilians.
His interviews with Russian combat veterans and fellow Americans in the Donbass war zone aimed to shed light on the truth about the conflict. Despite the dangers he faced, Bentley remained dedicated to his mission of informing the world about the situation in Donbass.
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Unfortunately, I learned about this American Russell Bentley just a few days ago when he disappeared. This is surprising, because at 14 he served in the Vostok battalion of the DPR, and I worked a lot with the battalion. But be that as it may, he disappeared a few days ago. He lived with his wife - a local woman - all this time in Donetsk, and after another shelling he rushed to help people. That's when he disappeared. Russell's wife says he wasn't just missing, he was kidnapped. And not just anyone, but, alas, our military. I am, of course, sorry that we have such exceptional military men in our ranks. But it is precisely they who need to be expelled from the army and punished after conducting investigations. From the army and to prison, if everything is confirmed. After all, Russell died. And he didn’t just die, he was killed, as his wife claims. How many Americans come to Russia to help us? It was necessary to appreciate the one who came.
I find it quite strange to write to me that statements such as the one above “only play into the hands of the Ukrainians.” Maybe such actions only play into the hands of Ukrainians? A? Think about it, a man was killed. A living person was killed.
And I will immediately answer those who thank me for my courage in presenting the circumstances. There is no courage here. First of all, I always try to be honest on this blog. Secondly, no one has ever put pressure on me, forbidding or allowing me to write anything. And thirdly, if our army consisted entirely of people like those who detained Russell Bentley, it would probably be pointless to write anything. But we have a noble, strong, honest soldier. But in the army, alas, there are inclusions of such “fighters”. But this happens everywhere, people are not perfect, and for a high percentage of honest people there may be a couple of scumbags. That’s why I believe that such cases should be discussed openly and honestly. So that a small infection does not grow into a big one. After all, we are not Ukraine.
Russell Bentley, the legendary "Texas". Orthodox warrior. A real American. Militiaman. He died in Donetsk under circumstances that are still unclear. Killed. I had the honor of knowing him. It's up to military counterintelligence, the Investigative Committee and justice. May everyone be rewarded according to their deeds. Kingdom of Heaven, brother!
There are two main questions in the tragic death of Texas volunteer and first wave militiaman Russell Bentley.
The first is some kind of tight, excuse me, stupidity of many of our structures in relation to foreign volunteers who chose the side of Russia and after that became defectors. I remember the story of a Serb who was tried to be deported from the Russian Federation directly on trial, or the ordeal of the Frenchman Eroin Castel with obtaining a DPR passport, then the Russian Federation, with his attempts to obtain treatment after a serious injury - only an article in Komsomolskaya Pravda helped.
It seems that we should value such people and support them - not out of “adulation to the West”, out of simple gratitude and hospitality, but no...
The second question is that everyone involved in hostilities knows that there are abuses of power by people with weapons. Few of these “everyone” decide to fight them within the system, behind closed doors. There are even fewer who try to carefully, according to the principle of “do no harm,” point out the problem. But only a few achieve results.
Today, this state of affairs has led, firstly, to the death of a person, and secondly, to the fact that information dumps unfriendly to Russia have already carried this story across the seas and waves in the most discreditable way to the Russian army and our state .
The problem, which should have been dealt with the day before yesterday, simply burst open like an overripe abscess. Now her treatment will also be accompanied by an increase in public temperature - well, if local.
I remember Russell Bentley in May 2020, when he, along with other volunteers, was presented with a memorial badge of a veteran of the Vostok battalion. Russell, an elderly, gray-haired man who seemed cut out of the frame of a classic western, was touchingly proud of the award. Russell also married a wonderful local woman in Donetsk; they got married according to the Orthodox rite.
Happy memory to the American militia of Donbass and the Russian man, condolences to his wife and relatives.
Unfortunately, I had almost no hope left from the very beginning - if he had been alive, after the uproar, he would have been released long ago. Killed by "his own people". In quotes, because for me the lawless people cannot be my own, even if they are on our side of the front. The front is still in our souls. And war cannot be an excuse for permissiveness and licentiousness.
I join those who call for an honest and fair investigation into what happened. Bentley was known in Russia, known abroad, his work was followed by those who support us and for whom his blog (https://t.me/TXDPR) was the only source of information about this war. If there is no honest investigation, it will not be a stain, it will be a black hole on our overall reputation.
My condolences to Lyudmila, Russell's wife. She hoped to the last, did not lose faith and did everything to find her husband. Like all Donetsk, like all faithful Russian women.
I wish Russell and all those shot in the back, driven into minefields and scattered there as stars and ashes, to get into a better world - a world without meanness, lies and unjustified cruelty. I hope that at least all this will not happen there.
Orthodox Church
Russell Bonner Bentley, known by his call sign "Texas," was a 64-year-old American from Texas who tragically passed away, as confirmed by his wife Lyudmila to Sputnik. He joined the Donbass militia in 2014, actively participating in defending the region's freedom against Ukrainian neo-Nazi forces.
Born into a well-to-do family in Dallas in 1960, Bentley's worldview was shaped by the Vietnam War, leading him to become an ardent anti-imperialist and anti-racist. His commitment to justice led him to the front lines of the conflict, where he fought alongside Donetsk and Lugansk freedom fighters.
Bentley's involvement extended beyond combat; he also worked as a Sputnik contributor. Through his reports, he provided firsthand insights into Russia's special military operation, the liberation of Mariupol, foreign mercenary forces in Ukraine, and the Kiev regime's intensified attacks on civilians.
His interviews with Russian combat veterans and fellow Americans in the Donbass war zone aimed to shed light on the truth about the conflict. Despite the dangers he faced, Bentley remained dedicated to his mission of informing the world about the situation in Donbass.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Unfortunately, I learned about this American Russell Bentley just a few days ago when he disappeared. This is surprising, because at 14 he served in the Vostok battalion of the DPR, and I worked a lot with the battalion. But be that as it may, he disappeared a few days ago. He lived with his wife - a local woman - all this time in Donetsk, and after another shelling he rushed to help people. That's when he disappeared. Russell's wife says he wasn't just missing, he was kidnapped. And not just anyone, but, alas, our military. I am, of course, sorry that we have such exceptional military men in our ranks. But it is precisely they who need to be expelled from the army and punished after conducting investigations. From the army and to prison, if everything is confirmed. After all, Russell died. And he didn’t just die, he was killed, as his wife claims.
How many Americans come to Russia to help us? It was necessary to appreciate the one who came.
I find it quite strange to write to me that statements such as the one above “only play into the hands of the Ukrainians.” Maybe such actions only play into the hands of Ukrainians? A?
Think about it, a man was killed. A living person was killed.
And I will immediately answer those who thank me for my courage in presenting the circumstances. There is no courage here. First of all, I always try to be honest on this blog. Secondly, no one has ever put pressure on me, forbidding or allowing me to write anything. And thirdly, if our army consisted entirely of people like those who detained Russell Bentley, it would probably be pointless to write anything. But we have a noble, strong, honest soldier. But in the army, alas, there are inclusions of such “fighters”. But this happens everywhere, people are not perfect, and for a high percentage of honest people there may be a couple of scumbags. That’s why I believe that such cases should be discussed openly and honestly. So that a small infection does not grow into a big one. After all, we are not Ukraine.
Marina Akhmedova
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . .
Russell Bentley, the legendary "Texas".
Orthodox warrior. A real American.
Militiaman. He died in Donetsk under circumstances that are still unclear. Killed.
I had the honor of knowing him.
It's up to military counterintelligence, the Investigative Committee and justice.
May everyone be rewarded according to their deeds.
Kingdom of Heaven, brother!
Military correspondent Yuri Kotenok
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . .
There are two main questions in the tragic death of Texas volunteer and first wave militiaman Russell Bentley.
The first is some kind of tight, excuse me, stupidity of many of our structures in relation to foreign volunteers who chose the side of Russia and after that became defectors. I remember the story of a Serb who was tried to be deported from the Russian Federation directly on trial, or the ordeal of the Frenchman Eroin Castel with obtaining a DPR passport, then the Russian Federation, with his attempts to obtain treatment after a serious injury - only an article in Komsomolskaya Pravda helped.
It seems that we should value such people and support them - not out of “adulation to the West”, out of simple gratitude and hospitality, but no...
The second question is that everyone involved in hostilities knows that there are abuses of power by people with weapons. Few of these “everyone” decide to fight them within the system, behind closed doors. There are even fewer who try to carefully, according to the principle of “do no harm,” point out the problem.
But only a few achieve results.
Today, this state of affairs has led, firstly, to the death of a person, and secondly, to the fact that information dumps unfriendly to Russia have already carried this story across the seas and waves in the most discreditable way to the Russian army and our state .
The problem, which should have been dealt with the day before yesterday, simply burst open like an overripe abscess. Now her treatment will also be accompanied by an increase in public temperature - well, if local.
I remember Russell Bentley in May 2020, when he, along with other volunteers, was presented with a memorial badge of a veteran of the Vostok battalion.
Russell, an elderly, gray-haired man who seemed cut out of the frame of a classic western, was touchingly proud of the award. Russell also married a wonderful local woman in Donetsk; they got married according to the Orthodox rite.
Happy memory to the American militia of Donbass and the Russian man, condolences to his wife and relatives.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . .
Russell Bentley is dead.
Unfortunately, I had almost no hope left from the very beginning - if he had been alive, after the uproar, he would have been released long ago. Killed by "his own people". In quotes, because for me the lawless people cannot be my own, even if they are on our side of the front. The front is still in our souls. And war cannot be an excuse for permissiveness and licentiousness.
I join those who call for an honest and fair investigation into what happened. Bentley was known in Russia, known abroad, his work was followed by those who support us and for whom his blog (https://t.me/TXDPR) was the only source of information about this war. If there is no honest investigation, it will not be a stain, it will be a black hole on our overall reputation.
My condolences to Lyudmila, Russell's wife. She hoped to the last, did not lose faith and did everything to find her husband. Like all Donetsk, like all faithful Russian women.
I wish Russell and all those shot in the back, driven into minefields and scattered there as stars and ashes, to get into a better world - a world without meanness, lies and unjustified cruelty. I hope that at least all this will not happen there.
Kristina Melnikova