A New Zealand soldier who was on leave without pay from his country’s army when he was killed in Ukraine has become the latest foreign fighter and first New Zealander to die in the war.
Friends of Cpl Dominic Abelen, 28, told the Guardian he had enlisted with Ukraine’s international legion, joining thousands of soldiers who have travelled to the conflict from around the world in the months since Ukraine’s government called for volunteers.
He had served in New Zealand’s army for 10 years, the military said in a written statement on Thursday. Abelen had previously deployed to Iraq and was based in Christchurch before he left for Ukraine. He had not told the defence force he was travelling to Ukraine or sought its permission.
Two British citizens, two Americans, an Australian and four Georgians are among those confirmed killed in the conflict, although the true number is likely to be higher.
Several more foreign fighters face the death penalty after being captured by Russian troops, in cases that have alarmed human rights advocates.
Two people who knew Abelen – one in Ukraine and another in New Zealand – told the Guardian he had enlisted with Ukraine’s international legion and had fought on the frontline of the conflict. They would not say how long Abelen had been in Ukraine, but it is understood to have been some months.
New Zealand’s military would not comment on the circumstances of Abelen’s death because he was not on active duty, but his commanding officer said he was well liked and respected.
“Corporal Abelen was a quality junior non-commissioned officer, a trusted go-to member of his company and an absolute character who genuinely cared for his soldiers and friends,” said Lt Col Cory Neale.
In the statement released by the military, Abelen’s father, who was not named, said he supported the actions of his “kind, gentle” son in “standing up and doing what he thought was right”.
“He didn’t tell us he was going to Ukraine until he was there,” his father said. “He knew we would talk him out of it. He also knew the risks of going there but still went to fight for them.”
New Zealand does not have a military presence in Ukraine, but has provided humanitarian aid and sent troops to Britain the help train Ukraine’s army.
On Thursday, New Zealand’s military said it had not known Abelen’s travel plans, and did not routinely check on the location of soldiers on leave without pay. But its statement said that it still considered those soldiers to be in active service.
They are required to alert their superiors of international travel plans and to seek approval to enter particular countries, including Ukraine. Abelen had not done so, according to the statement, and no serving personnel have been granted permission to enter the country.
Aaron Wood, a spokesperson for the veterans’ organisation No Duff, said he was aware of “tens” of New Zealand soldiers in Ukraine working in both combat and non-combat roles, including some, like Abelen, who were on leave without pay from active duty.
Nanaia Mahuta, New Zealand’s foreign minister, told reporters on Thursday that the government would work with Abelen’s family and New Zealand consular officials in Poland to repatriate his body and learn more about his death.
Oleksandr Kirichuk, Ukraine’s former honorary consul in New Zealand told the Guardian that he had fielded hundreds of inquiries from New Zealanders about joining Ukraine’s foreign legion, and had urged each of them not to go.
Kirichuk said he had quit his role in recent months because he disagreed with his government’s exhortations for foreigners to fight in Ukraine.
It is not illegal for New Zealanders who are not in active service to officially enlist with another country’s militaries. But an international law professor said Abelen’s death might prompt questions about whether more should be done to deter New Zealanders from travelling to fight in Ukraine.
Ukraine’s international legion and the country’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs have been approached for comment.
This story was amended on 26 August to correct Dominic Abelen’s age.
