Hendrick Lima Gonçalves, a 22-year-old from Tucuruí, in Brazil’s Pará state, has died while serving with Ukraine’s armed forces in the war against Russia. His family was informed of his death on Saturday, the 31st, and says the circumstances remain unclear.
“Until now, all we know is that he was killed on a mission, and we are trying to arrange for his body to be brought to Brazil,” his mother, Josiane Alves Lima, said. Brazil’s Foreign Ministry said its embassy in Kyiv is available to provide consular assistance if requested.
Gonçalves had worked as a shooting instructor in Ukraine since May and was expected to return to Brazil at the end of November, according to his family. In addition to training military personnel, he was also required to take part in field missions. “He always said he had to go, but that his rotation was safe,” his mother said.
The family spoke with him daily but lost contact early last week. They initially thought he might be on a longer mission. Gonçalves had served in the Brazilian Army in Pará in 2023 and, according to his mother, had long wanted to return to military service. His move to Ukraine was kept secret from the family until he called from the plane on the day he left.
Brazil’s Foreign Ministry says 35 Brazilians have died and 117 are considered missing in the conflict. Of those, 33 deaths and 107 missing people are attributed to the Ukrainian side, while two deaths and 10 missing people are attributed to the Russian side.
The ministry has issued warnings about the risks in Ukraine, advising Brazilians against travel to areas near the front lines and against accepting work in foreign armies.
Sources: Folha Mundo.