Details are emerging of how the Kiwi soldier was killed in Ukraine, with a former Defence Minister saying he'll be remembered as a "fallen warrior".
The New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) confirmed in a statement on Thursday the soldier who was killed in Ukraine while on leave was Corporal Dominic Abelen.
Abelen, 28, served with 2nd/1st Battalion Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment (RNZIR) based in Burnham, and had served with the NZDF for 10 years.
He was on a period of leave without pay at the time of his death and was not on active duty with the NZDF.
Details are now emerging of how the 28-year-old died. Abelen had been fighting for Ukraine's International Legion on the frontline in the east of the war-torn country.
In a joint operation attempting to re-take a frontline trench network during a dawn assault, Abelen was killed in a firefight with the enemy and died instantly, sources told NZ Herald.
An American fighter with the Legion was injured during the assault and died shortly after.
Former Defence Minister and soldier Ron Mark told Newshub Late on Thursday Abelen will be remembered as a "fallen warrior".
"I have no doubt that his mates, the woman and the man of the second first battalion will welcome him back in a manner befitting that of a fallen warrior," Mark told Newshub Late host Ingrid Hipkiss.
Mark told said it's not unusual for young soldiers to want to push their limits.
"I always used to say that training to be a soldier in a peacetime environment is like training to be a dentist and never being allowed to look into the mouth of a patient, it's just doesn't fit," he said.
"Soldiers want to test themselves in an operational theatre, and I think he's done that."
Veterans trust No Duff spokesperson Aaron Wood told Newshub at 8pm on Thursday around 10-20 Kiwis are fighting on the front lines in Ukraine.
He said about 100 Kiwis are in Ukraine, with the vast majority helping behind the scenes in roles like logistics and non-Government organisations.
He said there is a range of reasons Kiwis are heading over to Ukraine to fight on the front line or help behind the scenes.
"The fact this it's a righteous fight, we are talking about Russia, which is a huge bully and to a smaller country in Ukraine.
"Ukraine is far from perfect, but what country is including New Zealand, however, Kiwi soldiers and very clearly trained and programmed in terms of what is right and wrong.
"Very strict discipline and consequences for breaching that discipline and we have a very strong sense of what is right and wrong. So when you see things like that, you want to step in and act and you want to protect the weak and those who are unprotected,"
The focus now turns to getting Abelen's body back, but that is proving difficult.
According to RNZ, multiple sources have said they believe Abelen’s body is in Russian hands, but Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern's office told RNZ they did not know if that was true or not.
