A fifth New Zealander has died in combat in Ukraine, joining earlier losses (left to right) Dominic Abelen, Kane Te Tai, Andrew Bagshaw and Shan-Le Kearns. Herald composite photo<\/p>\n
The foundation is also searching for the body of fellow Kiwi Shan-Le Kearns, who died there in April<\/a>.<\/p>\n Kearns was killed when a Russian drone dropped a grenade on him. His death was filmed by a Russian drone and the footage uploaded to a Russian Telegram social media<\/a> channel.<\/p>\n Until remains are located, Ukrainian officials will formally list both men as missing in action.<\/p>\n The latest Kiwi casualty lost his life during intense fighting in Donetsk Oblast region in eastern Ukraine.<\/a><\/p>\n The Herald understands he has family members in a small North Island town, while his parents live overseas.<\/p>\n He had also spent time living in Australia before joining the Ukraine International Legion<\/a>.<\/p>\n The Weatherman Foundation\u2019s Kyiv-based director of programmes Lauren Guillaume told the Herald it is supporting the man\u2019s family, just as it has with three other families of Kiwis who have died in combat in Ukraine.<\/p>\n \u201cHe is a recent case, from this [Ukrainian] summer,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd, that\u2019s really the most I\u2019ll say right now because we\u2019re still trying to investigate … and validate everything. And, of course this loss for the family is still really, really new.\u201d<\/p>\n The Foundation is trying to locate, identify and repatriate his remains. They will use DNA, dental records and finger printing if necessary, Guillaume told the Herald. <\/p>\n The same goes for Kearns, who went by the military callsign \u2018Oxide\u2019.<\/p>\n Guillaume said bodies or partial remains are regularly recovered from battlefields, and during body exchanges between Ukrainian and Russian forces.<\/p>\n \u201cFor MIAs like \u2018Oxide\u2019 and [the fifth New Zealand fatality], there is still a chance for a recovery, because what\u2019s happening is the remain exchanges,\u201d Guillaume said.<\/p>\n The Herald has been told the man was killed on or around May 17 while trying to repel attacks from Russian troops near Nova Poltavka.<\/p>\n His death is one of many involving foreign fighters that pro-Russian Telegram channel TracANaziMerc has posted about. <\/p>\n The channel features a photo, purportedly of the late Kiwi, with a red cross on it and text saying he was among \u201ca group of foreign mercenaries\u201d who had been \u201cneutralized\u201d.<\/p>\n The May death means at least five New Zealanders have died in the European nation since Russia invaded in February 2022.<\/p>\n The toll includes three other soldiers – Dominic Abelen<\/a>, Kane Te Tai <\/a>and Shan-Le Kearns.<\/a><\/p>\n Aid worker Andrew Bagshaw died while trying to rescue an elderly woman in an area of intense military action in Soledar.<\/p>\n The Weatherman Foundation \u2013 using dental records and DNA samples – was able to confirm remains located in eastern Ukraine were those of Abelen.<\/p>\n They were returned to New Zealand in March \u2013 two and a half years after his death \u2013 where his funeral included a moving haka from his former New Zealand Defence Force unit.<\/p>\n Former Defence Minister Ron Mark \u2013 who recently returned from his fifth trip to Ukraine \u2013 has said as well as the five dead, \u201cconsiderably more\u201d Kiwis have been maimed on the battlefield.<\/p>\n Mark has previously told the Herald \u201cdozens\u201d of New Zealanders are in Ukraine: from former Defence Force soldiers \u2013 including a sniper and Afghanistan War veteran \u2013 to those with no military experience.<\/p>\n Asked how many New Zealanders she had come across while in Ukraine since last year, Guilaume responded: \u201cSo many\u201d.<\/p>\n The bodies of Bagshaw, Te Tai and Abelen were all eventually recovered.<\/p>\nShan-Le Kearns did not have a serving military background before going to Ukraine. Photo \/ Supplied<\/p>\n
Andrew Bagshaw lost his life while volunteering on an aid mission in Ukraine. Photo \/ Sebastian Polarchski<\/p>\n
Kane Te Tai’s final resting place at Auckland’s Waikumete Cemetery. Photo \/ NZME<\/p>\n
Four Ukrainian Armed Forces performed a haka in front of the body of slain Kiwi soldier Dominic Abelen before he was repatriated to New Zealand. Photo \/ Supplied<\/p>\n
Former Defence Minister Ron Mark has made five visits to Ukraine. He has told the Herald there are “dozens” of Kiwis fighting there. Photo \/ Neil Reid<\/p>\n