This article originally appeared at InMilitary.
By Wes O’Donnell
It’s rare that we recognize military deeds from service members from other nations; we have our hands full with the incredible soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines from our own nation. Having said that, Russian Federation commando Alexander Prokhorenko requires special mention.
Let it be known now that the time honored military code of selfless service, sacrifice and honor transcends national borders. Even from a former adversary, we are proud to call Prokhorenko a comrade or товарищ.
The Russian Special Forces Commando’s death went viral this week when it was revealed that he called an airstrike on his own position to take out ISIL. The transcript of his final words has now been released.
Prokhorenko: Command I am compromised, repeat I am compromised.
Command: please repeat and confirm
Prokhorenko: They have spotted me, there are shooting everywhere, i am pinned, request evacuation immediately
Command: evacuation request acknowledged
Prokhorenko: Please hurry I am low on ammo, they seem to everywhere, I can’t hold them for too long please hurry
Command: Confirmed, hold them off, continue return of fire, go to safe position, air support is monitoring, state coordinates
Prokhorenko: [gives coordinates which are blurred in the translation]
Command: command repeats coordinates which are blurred. Confirm
Prokhorenko: Confirmed, please hurry I am low on ammo, they are surrounding me, [expletive]
Command: 12 minutes until evacuation, return to safe line, I repeat return to safe line
Prokhorenko: They are close, I am surrounded, this may be the end, tell my family I love them dearly
Command: return to green line, continue return of fire, help is on the way, followed by air support
Prokhorenko: Negative, I am surrounded, they are so many of these [expletives]
Command: 10 minutes, return to green line
Prokhorenko: I can’t they have surrounded me and are closing in, please hurry
Command: move to green line, repeat move to green line
Prokhorenko: They are outside, conduct the airstrike now please hurry, this is the end, tell my family I love them and i died fighting for my motherland.
Command: Negative return to green line
Prokhorenko: I cant command, I am surrounded, they are outside, I don’t want them to take me and parade me, conduct the airstrike, they will make a mockery of me and this uniform. I want to die with dignity and take all these [expletives] with me. please my last wish, conduct the airstrike, they will kill me either way.
Command: please confirm your request
Prokhorenko: They out outside, this is the end commander, thank you, tell my family and my country I love them. Tell them I was brave and I fought until I could no longer. Please take care of my family, avenge my death, good bye commander, tell my family I love them
There is no response from Command, but they order the airstrike.