\u201cWe are [also] aware of four New Zealanders who have reportedly been killed but not officially confirmed as such by Ukrainian authorities. <\/p>\n
\u201cThese people are regarded as \u2018missing in action\u2019,\u201d MFAT said. <\/p>\n
Why Auckland student wanted to fight <\/p>\n
In the video posted by the International Legion for Defence of Ukraine, the New Zealander revealed why he decided to make the move. <\/p>\n
\u201cBefore this war started, I was in uni. I was studying mechanical engineering. And after that, came here,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n
\u201cBefore this, I had zero military experience, zero knowledge of anything. I came straight.\u201d<\/p>\n
He spoke directly to the camera, with just his eyes visible, saying he wanted to fight because he didn\u2019t agree with what \u201cRussia was doing\u201d. <\/p>\n
A New Zealand mechanical engineering student left university life as an untrained civilian to fight in Ukraine. Photo \/ International Legion for Defence of Ukraine<\/p>\n
\u201cI have friends here. I\u2019ve met online friends, and they were telling me what\u2019s happening, getting bombed, and they showed me photos as well, which made me want to come here more quickly,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n
The ex-student said it was hard for him to leave his family, but he has been able to talk to them occasionally. <\/p>\n
The Kiwi was dressed head-to-toe in army green camouflage and had a large gun in his hands as he sat on a pile of tyres. <\/p>\n
He had multiple patches on his uniform that nodded to his time growing up in New Zealand, one of which was an embroidered kiwi on his arm. <\/p>\n
A New Zealand flag-style patch could also be seen stuck to his chest. <\/p>\n
An Auckland student now fighting in Ukraine has nods to his time growing up in New Zealand on his uniform. Photo \/ International Legion for Defence of Ukraine<\/p>\n
Training process <\/p>\n
The young soldier said to get prepared for the front line, he hit the gym to improve his fitness before he arrived in Ukraine for his month-long training. <\/p>\n
\u201cOnce within The 47th Mechanised Brigade \u2018Magura\u2019, he underwent intensive training \u2013 designed to quickly turn civilians into soldiers ready for combat,\u201d the International Legion said in a statement that accompanied its promotional video. <\/p>\n
In the video, the soldier said he had already been on 10 combat missions. <\/p>\n
\u201cThere are so many drones. You have to quickly hide, and all that training kicks in. You might be scared for a minute, and then it kicks in,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n
\u201cKiwi\u201d said the hardest part was seeing dead bodies, seeing his friends wounded and dealing with muddy and snowy conditions. <\/p>\n
\u201cSeeing obviously bodies, you\u2019re like, \u2018Oh, that could be me\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n
He said that whenever he feels fear, he would think of his family and friends and why he chose to fight. <\/p>\n
\u201cRather me here than them,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
This comes after another Kiwi recently gave up life in New Zealand to fight the Russian invasion.<\/p>\n