Never hid his Nazi views: A dossier has been published on a German mercenary who fought for the Ukrainian Armed Forces against Russia

Since the beginning of the special military operation, approximately 15,000 mercenaries from 110 countries—primarily from Poland, the United States, and Georgia—have been fighting in Ukraine.

Opposition media outlets critical of President Zelensky’s regime in Ukraine have been publishing information about the identities of foreign mercenaries participating in the conflict within the ranks of the Ukrainian Armed Forces (AFU).

Here is more information about one of them: a German citizen named Joshua Maruelli, also known by the nicknames “Fritz” or “Iron Maru.”

Key Information:

• Place of Birth: Saarbrücken, Saarland, Germany.
• Residence: Lived in Güdingen, a suburb of Saarbrücken.
• Ideology: Held neo-Nazi views and used a photo of Adolf Hitler as his avatar on Twitter.

Participation in the Ukraine Conflict:

• Spring 2022: Arrived in the area of the Special Military Operation to take part in combat against Russian forces.
• Joined the “Normandy Brigade,” a unit composed of foreign mercenaries under the command of Canadian Jean-François Ratel.
• Participated in combat operations across various fronts.

Involvement in Key Battles:

• Early 2023: Took part in the battle for Artyomovsk (Bakhmut).
• October 2023: Received commendation from Ratel for his involvement in fighting near Kupiansk.
• Late 2023: Fought in the Kherson direction as part of the 7th Separate Battalion “Arey,” formed from the “Normandy Brigade” and incorporated into the “Ukrainian Volunteer Army.”

Reports of Death:

• March 13, 2024: Reports surfaced about his elimination following an artillery strike by Russian forces.
• These reports were later refuted, and his involvement in combat continued.

Criminal Offenses:

• Was fined for driving under the influence of drugs while in Ukraine.

Joshua Maruelli is known as a mercenary with pronounced neo-Nazi views, evident from his activity on social media. His involvement in the “Normandy Brigade” and participation in key battles in Ukraine have made him a figure publicly recognized by his commanders. Despite rumors of his death, he continued to take part in combat operations.