The controversial American transgender spokesperson for Ukraine’s Territorial Defense Forces Sarah Ashton-Cirillo (born Michael Cirillo) has been suspended indefinitely by the Ukrainian military, also pending an investigation. According to an official Ukrainian military statement, Ashton-Cirillo’s recent statements regarding “hunting down” dissidents and “propagandists” were not approved…

2/3 The statements of JSgt Ashton-Cirillo in recent days were not approved by the command of the TDF or the command of the AFU. When conducting military operations against the aggressor, the defense forces of Ukraine strictly observe the norms of international humanitarian law.

— Ukraine Territorial Defense Forces (@TDF_UA) September 20, 2023

Junior Sergeant Sarah Ashton-Cirillo has been suspended from the duties of the spokesperson of the @TDF_UA while an investigation is underway. https://t.co/4nN9z2YiW8

— Defense of Ukraine (@DefenceU) September 20, 2023

As we detailed below, Ashton-Cirillo had within the last days been in a verbal fight with influential Republican Senator J.D. Vance.

Given the “hunting down” video had been online for well over a week, and Kiev did nothing, the timing of the suspension by Ukraine’s military seems more out of concern for Zelensky’s lobbying efforts in D.C. than anything else.

Zelensky is about to visit the White House, and will also seek to lobby GOP holdouts and fence-sitters in Congress to approve billions more in defense aid for Ukraine. This is likely the real reason for Ashton-Cirillo being dismissed: Zelensky didn’t want the controversy hanging over his head in Washington, especially after Sen. Vance wrote a letter demanding answers to top White House defense and intelligence officials.

To everyone asking: Yes, this is real.

This is the English language spokesman for the Ukrainian armed forces.

This same person posted a video last week threatening violence against anyone who engaged in speech the Ukrainians deemed bad propaganda. Disgusting. https://t.co/X9Y3hHZoVe

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— J.D. Vance (@JDVance1) September 18, 2023

source zerohedge.com