WELLINGTON: New Zealand’s army said Wednesday that a soldier on leave had been killed in Ukraine, stressing that he was not on active duty.
The country has not deployed troops to Ukraine but it has sent dozens of military personnel to the UK to help train Ukrainian soldiers there.
“The soldier was on a period of leave without pay at the time and was not on active duty with the NZDF,“ a statement from the New Zealand Defence Force said.
“At this early stage, there is still more information to be gathered in order to understand the circumstances fully.”
The Ukraine war has attracted a string of Western fighters, some with past combat experience or military training.
Several have been killed in the conflict including fighters from the Netherlands, France, Germany and Australia.
Russia said in June that its forces had killed “hundreds” of foreign combatants in Ukraine since the start of the invasion.
Pro-Russian separatists have also captured several foreign citizens, describing them as mercenaries.
New Zealand’s army said it would offer support to the family of the soldier.
The country’s military sent a team of 30 troops to the UK in May to train Ukrainian soldiers to operate light field guns.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern earlier this month announced that an additional 120 military personnel would be sent to the UK to teach Ukrainian soldiers battlefield skills, including weapons handling and first aid. - AFP