Written by via france24.com
Kyiv (Ukraine) (AFP) – When Sarah Ashton-Cirillo, a trans woman from Nevada, came to Ukraine in March 2022 she planned to report on refugees.
She ended up fighting for Ukraine and is now a spokesperson for the country’s territorial defence force, explaining the war to English-speaking audiences.
On a visit to the studio she operates from, at a secret location in Kyiv, she smiled as she said her unit’s mantra is to “embrace the hate of the Russians”.
“If the Russians are angry at us, it means we are doing our job,” said the blond-haired 46-year-old American, who was wearing a khaki polo shirt.
On that basis, she is getting results.
Last week, Russian television showed an hour-long special calling Ashton-Cirillo a “terrible disgrace to the Ukrainian people” and a “monster”.
Ashton-Cirillo, who has a background in journalism and research, said she had only planned a two-week stay in Ukraine.
Nineteen months in, she is a junior sergeant and hosts live YouTube shows from her studio called “Ukraine in the Know” and “Russia Hates the Truth”.
She also constantly posts on Twitter, where she has 156,000 followers.
Ashton-Cirillo, who does not speak Ukrainian, reports on Ukraine’s official statements and mocks Russian media coverage.
Her role also includes monitoring international media.
In August, she announced a “boycott” of CNN after they called foreign fighters in Ukraine “mercenaries”. The US broadcaster swiftly corrected the article.