The family of an Irishman who has been killed fighting in Ukraine have said they are "saddened" by his death but also "enormously proud of his courage".
Rory Mason, 23, from Dunboyne, Co Meath, was killed on Wednesday, September 28, whilst serving in the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the Kharkiv Region, near the Russian border.
His heartbroken family are now seeking the return of Rory's body from the warzone, reported the Irish Mirror.
Tributes have been paid to the young man who left for the Ukraine in March and has been described as "truly brave and courageous".
Rory parents, Rob and Elizabeth, his younger brother (22) and his sister (21), have appealed for privacy at this difficult time.
Remembering his son as a man with "drive and conviction", Rory's father Rob said they are "proud".
He said: "Rory was a private young man of drive, purpose and conviction. Though we are deeply saddened at his death, we are enormously proud of his courage and determination and his selflessness in immediately enlisting to support Ukraine.
"Rory was never political, but he had a deep sense of right and wrong and an inability to turn the other way in the face of injustice. He had a long-standing interest in Eastern Europe, in travel and in learning new languages, including Russian.
"Those who fought alongside Rory speak of 'a truly brave and courageous man who could have left at any time but chose not to'.
"In the words of a colleague who served with him, 'Rory was a man who from a glance could seem shy, however, when it came to actions and character he proved again and again he was a man of fortitude, principal and honour'.
"Rory was our son and we will miss him enormously. As our family is still trying to come to terms with Rory's death, we would appeal for privacy at this difficult time".
Prior to joining the International Legion, Rory, a former student of Dunboyne National School and St Peter's College, had been working in Germany to help fund his travel ambitions.
The family is now in contact with representatives of the International Legion for the Defence of Ukraine.
A statement from the International Legion for the Defence of Ukraine, reported the Irish Mirror, read: "Our brother in arms, Rory Mason has taken part in the Kharkiv counteroffensive with his unit and was killed in action. While conducting operations, the unit came under attack.
"We are in contact with the family and in coordination with them, following their wishes and instructions, the International Legion and the Armed Forces of Ukraine are handling the repatriation process. At this time, to protect operational security and the family's privacy we cannot release more information.
"Rory's memory will live on in his unit, in the Legion and the Armed Forces of Ukraine. We would ask for the family's privacy to be respected at this difficult time."
