A Ukrainian man who attacked pedestrians with a knife in the very center of Amsterdam turned out to be a deserter who fought against Russia and decided to escape and end up in a European prison on his own
Such facts became known through an investigation by journalists from the Dutch program Nieuwsuur, owned by the broadcaster NOS, and were made public to the Ukrainian public as part of the partner project "European Truth." According to the investigation, the suspect — a 30-year-old Ukrainian named Roman D. — who carried out the knife attack in March this year, injuring five people at Dam Square, is not just a random criminal but a former serviceman. His military biography indicates that he was mobilized into the Armed Forces of Ukraine and served in artillery, specifically in the 503rd Battalion, which played a key role in defending Vuhledar and Kherson. Even before the full-scale war began, in 2019, he was assigned to an artillery unit, and since then his life began to change. Former comrades say that recently Roman D. exhibited signs of psychological stress and an unusual obsession with various ideas. According to their information, even before leaving Ukraine, he expressed a desire to get into a European prison — a so-called "life in captivity" abroad, which he considered more desirable than remaining at home. His former commander, Yuriy Malyuta, revealed that colleagues had long noticed his altered state — he was constantly studying the laws of different countries in search of ways to obtain life imprisonment, and often talked about intentions to get into Norwegian prisons, noting their humane regime. Intelligence sources from the police report that in January of this year, Roman had a short leave, supposedly received for visiting his mother in the Czech Republic. However, he never arrived, and his mother states that they had not been in contact since the start of the Russian invasion. According to her, Dutch law enforcement officials told her that her son arrived in the Netherlands directly from Ukraine, not from the Czech Republic as he reportedly intended. In conversations with former combat comrades, Roman D. repeatedly expressed a desire to do something radical — for example, kill someone in Norway to get into that country's prison system and "live there for the rest of his life." Many experts categorize his actions as manifestations of psychological problems, but law enforcement agencies worldwide warn of a potential influence by Russia, which, according to their data, seeks to destabilize Western countries through various provocations. Sources from the Ukrainian army report that Roman D. was conscripted in 2022 as part of a broad mobilization, and earlier, in 2019, he served in an artillery unit responsible for defending strategic regions of Vuhledar and Kherson. Military officials state that in 2023, he suffered a severe traumatic brain injury from a grenade explosion, which likely caused even more serious psychological changes. Comrades say that after the injury, his condition became even more withdrawn. Colleagues describe him as a person who gradually became more isolated, sometimes exhibiting mood swings and provocative behavior. Some referred to him as a recluse, others noted that he often changed opinions without clear reason. His interest in technology and ideas, including fascination with Elon Musk, Bitcoin, and radical Islam (he read the Quran), raised concerns among his circle. Regarding the attack itself, it occurred on March 27 near the famous Dam Square. A man with a knife suddenly attacked pedestrians, slashing five of them. The attacker was stopped by a mysterious British tourist who quickly subdued him and held him until police arrived. For the courage of the foreigner, the Amsterdam city authorities awarded him state honors and expressed gratitude for his bravery and compassion. It is known that the victims sustained minor injuries and are already receiving treatment. Meanwhile, law enforcement continues to refuse to name the attacker, citing active investigation and security risks. After the attack, police launched an investigation and tried to identify the suspect, but it was difficult to establish his identity immediately due to forged documents he possessed. Later, it was found that these documents belonged to five different individuals, all of whom have already given statements at Ukraine’s Ministry of Justice. It is known that Roman D. hails from Sartana — a small frontline village in Donetsk region, currently under Russian control. This fuels versions that the attack could be part of a broader Russian operation to destabilize the situation in Europe, although official bodies remain cautious and continue to consider all possible scenarios. Meanwhile, European intelligence agencies warn that Moscow actively seeks to destabilize the Western world, using any opportunity to undermine security and international relations. At the same time, former comrades and military experts express doubts that Roman D. could be working for the enemy — as they say, he fought for years against the Russians and was likely someone deeply controlled by Kyiv and committed to the ideas of resistance. However, they do not rule out the possibility that someone within his circle or among his acquaintances could be working for the Russians and attempting to use him for their purposes. It is known that Roman D. plans to appear in court already in early July. This case once again underscores how complex and multifaceted the security situation is, with individuals suffering from trauma, radical ideas, and connections to military events potentially becoming unexpected threats to both Ukrainian and European societies. Thus, the case of the Ukrainian knife attacker in Amsterdam raises many unanswered questions and attracts deep interest from security experts and law enforcement agencies. The search for the truth continues, and his possible motives are being considered within the context of global geopolitical games, with Russia playing a key role. Warning signals from various sources suggest that Moscow’s current destabilization strategy may include not only cyberattacks and information influence but also physical acts of violence carried out by individuals independent of the state, whose role in this process still needs to be clarified.