Shan-Le Kearns, New Zealander saving lives in Ukraine, dies after drone attack during evacuation effort

1News reported the information.

Shan-Le Kearns' family confirmed to 1News that the 26-year-old had died in Ukraine. Although he wasn’t fighting on the front line, he had received combat training to help evacuate wounded soldiers from the battlefield.

His mother, Elis Kearns, said Shan-Le "loved what he was doing," and she would keep reminding herself of that.

"He was saving lives. Then he was going back to save more, when a drone dropped a grenade on him." She said, at this stage, he was unable to be brought home.

"He is in bits and pieces in enemy territory. They have tried to retrieve [him], but were unsuccessful. They have told us at the very earliest it will be six months before anything can get done."

Elis said she was collaborating with The Weatherman Foundation to manage logistics and DNA identification, noting that "it is going to be a very long process."

She added that the work was helping her stay grounded after the loss and expressed pride in Shan-Le’s achievements in Ukraine. She said she wants to live her life to the fullest to "honour him."

"He was so helpful, so caring, especially for the underdogs you know, he would fight for them. He's pretty open minded, and he's wise in his age I reckon. Because for him to survive two whole years in the Ukraine, and still take newbies under his wing and help them out ... he makes sure everyone is cared for," she said.

In a video recorded before his death, Shan-Le said he planned to stay another year to complete his three-year contract in Ukraine.

“Although I’ve noticed most veterans tend to get unlucky after two years,” he said. “But don’t worry about me, just live your life, enjoy your time - I’ll probably be back eventually.

We’re on rotation, so I should be safe for the next few months at least. Anyway, enjoy your time - I’ll see you when I’m looking at you.”

A friend of Shan-Le Kearns told 1News he wasn’t a soldier. Social media suggested he was killed in the Kharkiv region in early April, but his body’s location remains unknown.

Shan-Le Kearns is the fourth New Zealander known to have died in Ukraine, following Dominic Abelen, Andrew Bagshaw, and Kane Te Tai. New Zealand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade said it was aware of the reports and was urgently seeking more information from Ukrainian officials, noting that the process may take time due to conditions on the ground.

Vasyl Myroshnychenko, Ukraine's ambassador to Australia, commented for Espreso: Ukraine remains forever thankful for Shan, for other New Zealanders, for Australians, and for all nationals who come to Ukraine’s defence, even at the risk of their own lives. We will always remember Shan. We will never forget him.