Days after writing to top Biden administration officials regarding the role of a U.S. transgender advocate in the Ukrainian military, Sen. J.D. Vance (R-OH) received a response — but not from Secretary of State Antony Blinken and U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin or Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines.
Instead, the unit Michael “Sarah” Ashton-Cirillo addressed the lawmaker directly in a video posted on X, formerly Twitter.
“The speculation around me is disappointing,” said the 46-year-old former journalist who became a junior sergeant and medic in the Ukrainian ground forces.
Vance wrote to Biden officials asking about the person after a video he posted on X in which he asserted that Russian “propagandists will be prosecuted” went viral.
“Next week, the teeth of the Russian devils will grind even harder and their furious mouths will foam uncontrollably as the world sees the Kremlin’s favorite propagandist pay for his crimes. And this Putin puppet is only the first. “All Russian war crimes propagandists will be prosecuted and justice will be served as we in Ukraine are led in this mission by faith in God, freedom and total liberation,” Ashton-Cirillo said in the viral video.
The Ohio Republican wanted to know whether the alleged spokesman was funded by any U.S. resources, whether he was a U.S. citizen and whether he had any ties to U.S. intelligence services.
“In recent days, a video has circulated showing a person claiming to be an English-speaking spokesman for the Ukrainian army. In the video, this person, Sarah Ashton-Cirillo, looks directly at the camera and threatens physical violence against anyone who spreads ‘Russian propaganda,'” he wrote in the video. letter.
“Multiple reports purport to provide additional information, much of it unconfirmed, about Ashton-Cirillo. I have seen claims that this person is an American, a former US intelligence agent and a Ukrainian government employee. Others say Ashton-Cirillo is pulling an elaborate prank. If so, kudos to you for providing quality humor,” Vance added.
After stating that Ukraine wanted justice, not revenge, Ashton-Cirillo addressed Vance directly in his video response.
“Simply put, I am an American citizen who serves in the Ukrainian Army on a war medicine team, brought to the media team for dual duty – as a spokesperson AND as an analyst of Russian disinformation. All the speculations about me disappointed me,” the spokesman said.
And to whom is he accountable?
“Only to the Ukrainian people, the Ukrainian military leadership and American taxpayers,” Ashton-Cirillo concluded.
After being bombarded with Russian lies, a sitting U.S. senator questioned my role in Ukraine.
Below is my answer.
But first, I requested expedited delivery of ATACMS from the United States.
Watch below:
— Sarah Ashton-Cirillo (Ukrainian media TDF) (@SarahAshtonLV) September 18, 2023
Vance discussed the response on Fox News.
🔥Senator @JDVance1 SLAMS taxpayer-funded Ukrainian spokesman for death threats:
“Are we really funding a military that threatens the free speech rights of people who disagree with the war in Ukraine? Why do our paid guns threaten Americans’ rights?” pic.twitter.com/IkGVxZHTa9
— Senator Vance Press Office (@SenVancePress) September 20, 2023
UPDATE:
Senator JD Vance is getting results 💪💪💪 https://t.co/hYJJ8KgVop
— Andrew Surabian (@Surabees) September 20, 2023
