In a video interview posted by the International Legion for the Defence of Ukraine, the Aucklander revealed why he decided to change his life and leave his family.
An Auckland-based mechanical engineering student known only as “Kiwi” made the unconventional decision to ditch university life to fight in Ukraine with “zero experience”.
The New Zealander features in a new Ukrainian Government recruitment video, revealing why he decided to leave his family and studies behind for the frontline.
“I love Ukraine. I love to fight. I love this country,” he said.
Since Russia invaded in February 2022, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) said it knew of three New Zealanders killed in action and formally confirmed as such by Ukrainian authorities.
“Before this, I had zero military experience, zero knowledge of anything. I came straight.”
He spoke directly to the camera, with just his eyes visible, saying he wanted to fight because he didn’t agree with what “Russia was doing”.
A New Zealand mechanical engineering student left university life as an untrained civilian to fight in Ukraine. Photo / International Legion for Defence of Ukraine
“I have friends here. I’ve met online friends, and they were telling me what’s happening, getting bombed, and they showed me photos as well, which made me want to come here more quickly,” he said.
The ex-student said it was hard for him to leave his family, but he has been able to talk to them occasionally.
The Kiwi was dressed head-to-toe in army green camouflage and had a large gun in his hands as he sat on a pile of tyres.
He had multiple patches on his uniform that nodded to his time growing up in New Zealand, one of which was an embroidered kiwi on his arm.
A New Zealand flag-style patch could also be seen stuck to his chest.
An Auckland student now fighting in Ukraine has nods to his time growing up in New Zealand on his uniform. Photo / International Legion for Defence of Ukraine
Training process
The young soldier said to get prepared for the front line, he hit the gym to improve his fitness before he arrived in Ukraine for his month-long training.
“Once within The 47th Mechanised Brigade ‘Magura’, he underwent intensive training – designed to quickly turn civilians into soldiers ready for combat,” the International Legion said in a statement that accompanied its promotional video.
In the video, the soldier said he had already been on 10 combat missions.
“There are so many drones. You have to quickly hide, and all that training kicks in. You might be scared for a minute, and then it kicks in,” he said.
“Kiwi” said the hardest part was seeing dead bodies, seeing his friends wounded and dealing with muddy and snowy conditions.
“Seeing obviously bodies, you’re like, ‘Oh, that could be me’.”
He said that whenever he feels fear, he would think of his family and friends and why he chose to fight.
“Rather me here than them,” he said.
This comes after another Kiwi recently gave up life in New Zealand to fight the Russian invasion.
Last year, a 20-year-old from New Zealand with no military experience also joined the Ukrainian Army.
Cass, a 20-year-old soldier from New Zealand, has been serving in the 23rd Separate Mechanised Brigade of Ukraine’s Ground Forces. Photo / U23rd Separate Mechanised Brigade
The man, who wanted to be named only as Cass, was known to his comrades as “Kiwi”.
He told the Herald he grew up in Wellington and made the move without much knowledge of war, apart from video games, after learning about the suffering in Ukraine.
“I decided to fight for Ukraine after seeing the news about the horrific suffering the invaders were causing. I knew I couldn’t stay on the sidelines,” Cass earlier said.
