Retired Russian army officer sentenced for assault on Ukrainian friend in West Cork shed

A drunken dispute over the Russian invasion of Ukraine spiralled into violence between two friends in Dunmanway

Gardaí found the accused man armed with a 5in fishing knife, roaring as he stood over the other man, who was lying topless and unconscious and covered in blood on the floor, court told. Picture: Larry Cummins 

A shed in Dunmanway was the location for a violent row between a retired Russian army tank commander and his Ukrainian friend, after they had shared a bottle of 47%-proof gin and rowed about the war.

The Latvian national, who served for 20 years in the Russian army, was seen with a bloodstained knife in his hand standing over his Ukrainian friend, who lay on the floor after their argument about the Russian army and Ukraine spilled over into violence.