Family pay tribute to Kildare solider killed in Ukraine

A former Athy fireman was killed last Thursday (19 September) in the Ukrainian war in the town of Vovchansk.

Robert Deegan (29) had lived in Athy but spent his youth in Newbridge, attending the PBS whilst living in The Oaks.

The son of Rachael and John, Robert was a former Army Ranger, and was the youngest ever Irish soldier to qualify for the elite unit, according to his brother Commandant Ricky Deegan of the Irish Air Corps.

“It is a beautiful tragedy,” said Comdt Deegan with a catch in his voice. “He lived by the sword, and died by the sword. He loved the job, and felt a huge responsibility to help the people out there."

He added: “He had done a significant number of combat missions out there, probably over a 100.

“He actually sent me a text the night before saying that this could be his last mission."

“I think he kinda subconsciously knew something was going to happen.

“He was already a decorated hero before he was killed."

Robert is believed to have died covering the retreat of other members of the special forces squad called the Stugna Unit, the Foreign Legion of the Ukrainian war, of which he was a member.

“It was a death he would have wanted, he died a hero covering his comrades,” said Comdt Deegan.

His brother had joined the Defence Forces elite Army Ranger Wing in 2017 in the footsteps of their father John, and just three years after Robert passed out as a private.

“His dad John was also in the wing, as well as the Cadet School, they were a hard-core military family,” said a military source.

“Robert was a good soldier by all accounts,” he added.

He spent nearly three years in the wing, doing one tour overseas to Syria, before leaving the Defence Forces and joining the fire service in Athy.

“He was a very staunch athlete, big into his cycling, then he chose to go out to Ukraine,” said Ricky.

He went to Ukraine after Russia’s illegal invasion in February 2022 to fight the invaders.

Robert was previously injured in the conflict in October 2022 after being caught up in an improvised explosive device blast in the east of the country.

“He was blown off the back of an APC, in an explosion that killed a comrade,” said Ricky.

“He lost an eye, had to have reconstructive surgery, and very nearly died, but he returned to Ukraine."

Having returned to Ireland to recuperate he decided to go back to Ukraine - and rejoin the Stugna Unit.

“He has his family here, and a daughter, and they didn’t want him to go back, but he did,” said Ricky.

“He had already won one of Ukraine’s highest bravery medals, and was highly thought of by his comrades. Their nickname for him was ‘Irish’,” explained Ricky.

“He died covering a retreat of his comrades. Robert would have liked to have been remembered as a hero who gave his life for his comrades."

 Robert becomes the fifth Irishman to have died in this conflict. Alex Ryzhuk (20) who was killed last month was from Rathmines in Dublin. Graham Dale (45) from Dublin and Finbar Cafferkey from Achill were killed in December 2023, while Rory Mason (23) from Dunboyne died in October 2022.