Staff Sergeant Marius Florin Sfeches and Private Cristian Petru Filip were killed on duty at approximately 10.30 hrs. (Romania time) on Friday, October 1, while on mission in Afghanistan, after the HUMVEE they were in had been attacked with an improvised exploding device.

During the attack that took place in Zabul Province, some 40 km north-east of Qalat, Corporal Vasile Zbanca was also injured. He was evacuated according to procedures with a medevac helicopter to the field hospital at Lagman Base; at present he is in stable condition.

The injured soldier and the two victims belonged to the 812th 'Soimii Carpatilor' Maneuver Battalion. Staff Sergeant Marius Florin Sfeches was 25 while Private Cristian Petru Filip was 26; they were both single.

The Minister of National Defence Gabriel Oprea signed the orders for the promotion to the rank of 2nd Lieutenant of the two soldiers that sacrificed their lives while conducting a mission in Afghanistan

The defence minister has also submitted propositions to the President of Romania for the decoration of the late 2nd Lieutenants Marius Florin Sfeches and Cristian-Petru Filip with National Order Steaua Romaniei in grad de Cavaler [Romanian Star, Rank of Knight] for military men, with war insignia.

The Minister of National Defence Gabriel Oprea and the Chief of General Staff, Admiral Gheorghe Marin, expressed their deep sorrow for the tragic event and that their hearts go the grieving families. They are permanently updated on the evolution of Corporal Vasile Zbanca’s health.

MoND Press Office