Russian soldier from viral fatal Ukrainian hand-to-hand combat VIDEO speaks to RT

A Russian soldier, Andrey Grigoryev, has recounted a brutal fatal knife fight with a Ukrainian servicemember during intense combat near the village of Trudovoye in Russia’s Donetsk Region last autumn.

Grigoryev, 35, who joined the army as a volunteer, spoke to RT on Friday after a body-cam video of the confrontation went viral earlier this week.

The eight-minute clip, shared widely on Russian Telegram channels, shows the Ukrainian soldier approaching a dilapidated building before engaging in a close-range firefight with Grigoryev.

The confrontation escalates into hand-to-hand combat, ending with the Ukrainian soldier being fatally stabbed multiple times.

As he lay bleeding on the ground, the Ukrainian servicemember is heard saying: “Let me die in peace. I want to go on my own. Thank you. You were the greatest fighter in the world.” Grigoryev, also wounded and covered in blood, stood up and left the scene without delivering a final blow.

Grigoryev explained his decision in the interview: “We – Russians and Yakuts – are taught from childhood: In any situation, you have to remain human.” He added that the Ukrainian had killed one of his friends during the clash, leaving him no option but to fight. “He had two knife neck wounds and was stabbed three times near the heart. I knew he wouldn’t be able to get up.”

The viral video also drew attention from Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, who commented on X (formerly Twitter) on Friday. “I have a WW1 trench knife embedded in my bedroom wall just in case. 1917 edition. More useful than a gun in close quarters,” Musk wrote.