Alexandr Filin’s old interview resurfaces after his death in southern Lebanon

Walla News republished on Thursday an interview from about a decade ago with Staff Sergeant Alexandr Filin, who was killed the day before in operational activity in southern Lebanon. Filin, 29, from Haifa, had immigrated alone from Ukraine 14 years earlier through the Naale program, enlisted in the IDF, and later served as a fighter in Division 36.

In 2018, on Israel’s 70th Independence Day, he received the President’s Medal of Distinction for stopping a stabbing attack at a checkpoint near Nablus. In the interview, he described how a Palestinian jumped out of a car, pulled out a knife and ran toward his friend. “I shot him, he fell with the knife, tried to get up, so I shot him again,” he said.

He also recalled that the attacker came within about two meters and tried to stab him first. “I kicked him to push him away and tried to cock the weapon. Because of the stress I couldn’t cock it. I kicked him a second time, cocked the weapon and shot,” Filin said.

Filin stressed then that he did not see himself as a hero. “Less do I feel like a hero because I know this is my job. That is why I enlisted, that is why I came to Israel to be part of everyone,” he said. The IDF said he was killed by an explosion from a bomb during operational activity near the Litani River, and a preliminary inquiry suggests it was likely an enemy device. The circumstances are still being investigated.

In the same incident, an officer, a reserve officer and another reservist were moderately wounded, while a company commander, two reservists and a female reservist suffered light injuries and were evacuated for treatment. His wife, Dasha, and their two-year-old daughter Emily were abroad when they learned of his death and are expected to return to Israel overnight, after which his funeral will be scheduled.