New Zealand soldier killed while on leave in Ukraine named

Soldier Dominic Abelen has been killed fighting in Ukraine while on leave without pay from the New Zealand Defence Force.

The Defence Force said on Wednesday it had received reports of the death of a serving soldier, who was not on active duty.

“At this early stage, there is still more information to be gathered in order to understand the circumstances fully,” it said in a statement.

“The soldier was on a period of leave without pay at the time and was not on active duty with the NZDF.”

READ MORE:
* After six months of war in Ukraine, here’s what could come next
* A Russian soldier’s journal of the Ukraine war: ‘I will not participate in this madness’
* Ex-NZ soldier planning Ukraine mission: ‘It could be a one-way trip’

It is understood the soldier is Dominic Bryce Abelen, who was in the Burnham-based Royal NZ Infantry Regiment’s 2/1 Battalion.

A family member told Stuff “statements will be released as time goes on”.

Aaron Wood, spokesperson for veterans’ trust No Duff, said he was connected to a network of about 100 former or current NZDF soldiers in Ukraine, which for the past six months has been at war with invading Russian forces.

Those on the front lines numbered in the 10s, he said.

Defence Minister Peeni Henare offered his sympathies to the soldier’s family.

“I express my condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of the New Zealand soldier who is reported to have died in Ukraine while on leave from the army,” a statement said.

The Government has this year deployed 150 soldiers to the UK to train Ukrainian forces in weapons handling, first aid and military law. None have been deployed to Ukraine itself.

In March, the Government advised Kiwis against travelling to Ukraine, saying it could not provide protection in the war against Russia, which has already claimed thousands of lives.

That came after a group of former New Zealand service personnel said they were planning to escort two Ukrainian New Zealanders back to their war-torn country.

Former Defence Minister Ron Mark has just finished up his fourth mission with a Christian humanitarian organisation delivering aid and helping evacuate people from hotspots in Ukraine.

He’s engaged in two missions from home, and has twice travelled to the eastern European country – most recently earlier this month.

He has been contacted for comment.

Since 1987, 285 active Defence Force personnel have died, including off-duty accidents and from natural causes.

The Russian Invasion

The war began on February 24 when Russia invaded Ukraine. Three days earlier, it recognised two separatist states in the Donbas region and troops were deployed.

The war has drawn widespread backlash and condemnation from the international community, with many countries bringing in economic sanctions against Russia.

Russian president Vladimir Putin has claimed his military is conducting a “special military operation” to protect pro-Russian separatists.

About 9000 Ukrainian soldiers and at least 5000 civilians are thought to have been killed since the invasion began, along with 25,000 Russian troops.

Russia has taken about a fifth of Ukraine’s territory.

This week, Ukraine marks 31 years since the country left the Soviet Union.

The Guardian on Wednesday reported president Volodymyr Zelenskyy as saying: “[Independence Day] is an important day for all of us. And that is why this day, unfortunately, is also important for our enemy. We must be aware that … hideous Russian provocations and brutal strikes are possible.”

What happens over the next six months is uncertain.

The Telegraph has reported Ukrainian officials saying the war has become bogged down in a “strategic stalemate”.

Moscow, the newspaper reports, is unlikely to be in a position to change that situation very much over the next few months, given that Russian forces are exhausted, running low on precision-guided munitions, and completely out of ideas.