SÃO PAULO, SP (FOLHAPRESS) – A 19-year-old Brazilian who volunteered for Ukraine in the war against Russia died in combat. The information was confirmed by the Municipality of Rurópolis (PA), his hometown.
Tiago Nunes, known as Índio, died on Thursday (28) under unclear circumstances. Family and friends gather on Friday night, in Rurópolis, to pay tribute.
Vitor Scalabrin, a friend of Tiago, told the journalist that he went to Ukraine because he always had the dream of serving in the army. “He was a great son. And he made anyone laugh, no matter where they were.”
“At this time of deep sadness and pain, we express our deepest condolences to family and friends,” the city council wrote on social media.
Tiago was not the first Brazilian killed in combat in Ukraine. Last year, Itamaraty confirmed the death of Antônio Hashitani, 25, a medical student. He was a volunteer in a paramilitary group operating in the Bakhmut region, scene of one of the bloodiest battles of the conflict.
Previously, in 2022, the ministry had already announced the death of at least two other Brazilians: the gaucho André Hack Bahi, 43, who worked as a lifeguard for the International Defense Legion of Ukraine, and Douglas Búrigo, 40, that was outside the area. Brazilian Army and died in Kharkov, in the east of the invaded country.
Tiago’s death came at a time when Russian forces are advancing into eastern Ukraine. Moscow has also intensified the use of missiles and drones against the neighboring country before the inauguration of Donald Trump as president of the United States: the Republican leader, who will take office on January 20, even said during the campaign that he would put an end to the conflict in January. 24 hours.
Last week, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky mentioned the risk of defeat if the Trump administration cuts aid to kyiv. The Republican criticizes US military spending in other countries.
The Ukrainian War entered a new phase on the 19th, when kyiv launched, for the first time since the beginning of the conflict, in February 2022, long-range US missiles against Russian territory.
The attack came after Washington, Ukraine’s main ally, allowed the use of such weapons against Moscow, bowing to months of insistence from Zelensky. Current US President Joe Biden authorized the escalation two months before leaving office, prompting criticism from Trump’s team, which warned of the risk of a “Third World War.”
