Soldier of Defense Intelligence Legion, who fell in battle, was honored according to New Zealand ritual in Kyiv

On March 11, in Kyiv, they said goodbye to Dominic Abelen, with the call sign Tolkien, from the International Legion of the Defense Intelligence of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine.

This was reported by the Defense Intelligence press service.

Dominic was 28. He was a representative of the Maori people and came from the New Zealand city of Nelson.

"A professional soldier, a corporal of the Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment, had combat experience during the war in Iraq. He loved to travel - during his life he managed to visit more than 60 countries. He arrived at the call of Ukraine to defend the values of freedom in the war with the aggressor state of russia - he joined the ranks of the Defense Intelligence Legion in 2022. At first he was a military instructor, in the summer he joined the ranks of a combat unit as a machine gunner," the message about the deceased says.

Dominic Abelen was awarded the Defense Intelligence award “Ukraine Above All”, as well as the medal “For Military Merit” (posthumously).

He was killed near Vuhledar on August 23, 2022, while covering the retreat of his comrades.

Only now has it been possible to return Tolkien's body to Ukraine and honor the warrior with proper military honors.

In honor of the fallen Dominic Abelen, his comrades-in-arms performed the traditional Maori ritual dance of the warriors Haka.