A Kiwi soldier feared dead in Ukraine is being remembered as a man amongst men with a "wicked sense of humour".
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Tuesday evening it's aware of reports a New Zealander had died in Ukraine, but wasn't confirming any more details.
But Newshub understands Kane Te Tai, 38, has been killed in action.
Te Tai, also known as "Turtle", had been on the frontline in Ukraine for several months, often posting on social media about his work.
Aaron Wood, a close friend of the 38-year-old, told Newshub Late on Tuesday Te Tai always wore his heart on his sleeve.
"Kane has a massive heart, anybody that knows him at all, knows that. He co-founded No Duff Charitable Trust with me seven years ago in February and didn't hesitate to drop what he was doing on that day, respond to my phone call and go and support one of our fellow veterans," Wood told Newshub Late host Rebecca Wright.
"He's got a big heart to help people and he saw a situation in Ukraine that he felt he could apply his skills, his knowledge and his experience to and he went and did so."
Wood described Te Tai as someone who cares a lot, has a big heart and didn't take life too seriously.
"He's very gregarious, he's very cheeky, got a massive, wicked sense of humour and doesn't like to take life too seriously on the outside, although inside, he does wear his heart on a sleeve," Wood said.
"He's an easy guy to love and a guy like that who you can rely on in extreme circumstances, you don't run into that too often. He's a man amongst men is the best way I could put it."
Te Tai is a very experienced soldier, who completed a tour over in Afghanistan and while in Ukraine worked on the eastern front in the Donbas region, Wood said.
"He was very highly regarded, along with his comrade Dominic Abelen for their skills, for their experience and for their abilities, interestingly, as most Kiwi soldiers are over there," Wood said.
No Duff Charitable Trust, which Te Tai co-founded, posted a heartfelt message on Facebook on Tuesday evening after news broke of the apparent death.
"Kane had a huge heart and loved helping people. His loss leaves a huge hole in many lives from here to Eastern Europe. We will ensure his legacy through No Duff lives on," the post said.
A Givealittle page has been created to cover the cost of bringing Te Tai's body home.
Te Tai's mother told NZ Herald she's hoping her son is alive but hasn't been able to make contact with him.
"I'm hoping it is not true. I have that hope. He didn't prepare me for how this might turn out," Ngaire Te Tai told NZ Herald.
Just last week, Te Tai posted dramatic footage of him saving a long-lost friend who was presumed dead from Russian captivity.
If confirmed, Te Tai will be the third Kiwi to die in Ukraine's war effort, alongside Andrew Bagshaw and Dominic Abelen.
