An American member of the volunteer International Brigade is holding an AR10 type rifle. You can tell from the angle at the rear of the lower receiver that is an "Armalite-type" as opposed to the "DPMS-type". The locally made Zbroyar Z10 is of the "Armalite-type", but they were all produced in Flat Dark Earth, none of them plain black like this. Most AR10 designs utilize the "DPMS-type" lower. Only a select few manufacturers have chosen the Armalite style. So best guess is that this is likely another Diamondback product, sold on the civilian market prior to the war. Buuuut,...since this is an American (his flag patch is partially covered by his sling),...it is very unlikely it was purchased by him. Was the original purchaser KIA and his rifle simply handed off to someone else, ending up in the hands of this American volunteer? Who knows. I wonder what tale it could tell.
Very early in the war, these Bravo Company rifles were donated to Ukraine. At the time, it wasn't clear whether they were simply sent by Bravo Company on their own dime, or what. Previous pictures never allowed a really good look at them, other than clearly enough to observe the Bravo logo on the stocks. But in this photo, we can clearly see an auto sear pin hole that appears to be factory original. That would seem to indicate Bravo Company was given a special emergency permission and expedited permit to export select-fire rifles to Ukraine. Somebody at Foggy Bottom gave them an express ticket.
Here's a couple of marksmen setting up in a position. Notice the holstered sidearm is a Stechkin in a custom-made kydex holster.
Look closely and you'll see dude on the right has a SEALs trident on his fannypack. Is he actually American? Is he actually a former SEAL? No way to know. But their gear suggest they are well connected. Not only do those ELCAN Spectre optics cost more than the rifles, the IR laser modules are also not cheap. While donor nations have certainly dropped some expensive toys on the boys, these are not among them. Somehow someone secured those outside regular channels.
Same SEAL, same fannypack, but now dressed very much in a way that seems to suggest he's actually for real. Perhaps more shortly after arrival in country? Just what he had stuffed in his luggage, plus his recently acquired Malyuk and magazines.
Same SEAL, but many months later (photo taken a few weeks ago). If you look closely, despite the face blocking, it is evident he has grown his beard out. Now outfitted with one of those select-fire Bravo Co. rifles and 3rd Gen Glock.
