Off-duty New Zealand soldier Dominic Abelen was killed in Ukraine fighting with foreign troops and has been remembered as a tough professional "warrior" who "died doing what he loved". Video / NZ Herald
The Kiwi soldier killed in Ukraine has been described by a fellow soldier as "strong, hardcore and handsome" and a "warrior until the end".
The Herald understands the fallen soldier is Dominic Abelen, who was based at Burnham Military Camp in Christchurch with the Royal NZ Infantry Regiment's 2/1 Battalion.
Abelen, who was on a period of leave without pay at the time, was not on active duty with the NZDF.
"At this early stage, there is still more information to be gathered in order to understand the circumstances fully," the New Zealand Defence Force said in a statement. "The New Zealand Army will work closely with the family of the soldier to offer support at this deeply sad time."
One former NZDF soldier fighting with Ukraine's International Legion has paid tribute to the fallen comrade.
"The bro was anything but scenery. Strong, hardcore, handsome but extremely humble," he wrote online. Best believe he died doing what he loved and was extremely good at.
Private Dominic Abelen kneels behind a barricade while engaging targets at Range 218, Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton CA United States 2013 during Dawn Blitz. Photo / Cpl. Joseph Scanlan
Defence Minister Peeni Henare expressed his condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of the Kiwi soldier.
"I have been advised the New Zealand Army are supporting the soldier's family through this difficult time," he said.
The Herald understands relevant ministers have been briefed but details were scant.
'Determined to bring him home'
Former New Zealand Defence Force commanding officer Tenby Powell, who is in Ukraine undertaking humanitarian work, said he had been asked by the family of the dead soldier to bring him back to New Zealand.
While he was not willing to go into details about the circumstances of the soldier's death he told Today FM the family were distraught.
"It's a very sad day here in Ukraine, not just for New Zealanders but for everyone."
He said he had been asked to bring him home and he felt honoured to do that, breaking down in tears midway through his sentence.
"I've talked to a family member they have asked me and I have agreed to go and get him. We need to do this in a very respectful and expedient manner. I have given the family my assurances that he will be well looked after all the way back.
He intended to drape the coffin in a New Zealand flag for the trip home and make sure the soldier had all the care a person serving in the defence force warranted.
Burnham Military Camp in Christchurch where Dominic Abelen served with the Royal NZ Infantry Regiment's 2/1 Battalion. Photo / George Heard
The soldier would be taken initially through Warsaw, then Ukraine and back to New Zealand.
Said Powell: "We are determined to bring him out. He will come out and he will be looked after all the way."
Tough month
August is always a tough month for many serving and former members of the Defence Force.
The "Battle of Baghak", a Taliban ambush near Dahane Baghak in the Shikari Valley of Bamyan Province on August 4, 2012, was New Zealand's bloodiest battle since Vietnam.
Lance Corporals Rory Patrick Malone and Pralli Durrer, both aged 26, were killed in the fierce shoot-out north of their Kiwi base, while six comrades were wounded.
Two weeks later, on August 19, 2012, Crib 20 deployment comrades Corporal Luke Tamatea, 31, Lance Corporal Jacinda Baker, 26, and Private Richard Harris, 21, died when their Humvee hit a 20kg roadside improvised explosive device.
Lieutenant Tim O'Donnell was first of 10 Kiwis killed in Afghanistan, when on August 3, 2010, while serving as part of New Zealand's provincial reconstruction team in Bamiyan province in Afghanistan, he was killed in an attack.
SAS soldier corporal Douglas "Duggy" Grant died in a firefight with Taliban insurgents as he tried to rescue civilians following an attack on the British Council building in Kabul on August 19, 2011.
The war in Ukraine has raged for six months since Russia invaded the Eastern European country.
Most of the Russian and Ukrainian forces are conсentrated in the Donbas, the industrial region of mines and factories in the nation's east. Ukraine has vowed to drive the Russians from the territory they have seized since the start of the invasion.
According to Ukraine's honorary consul in Auckland, more than 500 Kiwis had volunteered to fight in Ukraine despite official warnings not to join the war.
It's believed about 20 Kiwis had remained in Ukraine after Foreign Affairs Minister Nanaia Mahuta's warning in February to "leave immediately".
Kiwi doctor Jenny Beesley, who the Herald interviewed in the war-torn country's capital Kyiv, was one who joined the war effort.
The 39-year-old had trained as a fighter jet pilot with the Royal Air Force and joined the Number One International Company, a combat unit bringing together international volunteers and Ukrainians.
She spoke of her deployment to the Donbas region, firefights with Russian troops and coming under attack from enemy tanks and helicopters.
It adds to the 30 personnel sent over in May to train Ukrainian military personnel in operating artillery and the more than $40 million provided in financial support.
"New Zealand has been clear that we will continue to answer the call of Ukraine for practical support as they defend their homeland and people against Russia's unjustified invasion," Ardern said.
Two NZDF infantry training teams will teach Ukrainian personnel frontline combat, including weapon handling, combat first aid, operational law and other skills.
Henare said at the time of the announcement that no active NZDF member would enter Ukraine.
Across February and March, after the war began, the NZ Government announced several million dollars would be provided to the United Nations' Ukraine Humanitarian Fund and the UN Refugee Agency.
Ukrainian soldiers ride a tank through the town of Trostsyanets in Ukraine. Photo / AP
Later in March, $5m of non-lethal military assistance was sent to Ukrainian forces, which consisted of body armour plates, helmets and camouflage vests/harness webbing.
In April, the Government deployed a Royal New Zealand Air Force C-130H Hercules transport aircraft and 50 support personnel to Europe for two months, along with another $13m of military, humanitarian and legal support.
A separate eight-person NZDF team of logistic specialists were also sent over to support the international donor coordination centre in Germany with the flow of aid and supplies to Ukraine.
In May, up to 30 NZDF personnel were deployed to the United Kingdom to help train Ukrainian military personnel in operating light artillery.
