Itamaraty says it has not yet received official confirmation of the death of a man from Pará in the war in Ukraine

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Itamaraty) reported this Tuesday (3) that it has not yet received official notification from the Ukrainian authorities about the death of 22-year-old Hendrick Lima Gonçalves from Pará, who, according to his family, died in combat in the war in Ukraine. The information was passed on this Tuesday (3), after the reporter sought out the Brazilian diplomatic representation to find out how the government can assist family members in locating and transporting the body to Pará.

Born in Tucuruí, in the southeast of Pará, Hendrick died, according to his family, on October 30th. The family received news of the death on the 31st and, since then, has been trying to obtain information about the location of the body and the possibility of bringing it back to Brazil.

In response to the report, Itamaraty reported that the Brazilian Embassy in Kiev maintains contact with family members and provides consular assistance.

"The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has not yet received official notification about the case from the Ukrainian authorities. Itamaraty, through the Brazilian Embassy in Kiev, is in contact with the Brazilian's family, to whom it provides consular assistance", informed the ministry.

The body also explained that the Brazilian government's actions in situations involving citizens who participate in armed conflicts abroad are limited by international standards and the conditions faced in combat areas.

According to Itamaraty, Brazilians who join the Armed Forces of Ukraine sign contracts with the Ukrainian government and become subject to that country's legislation. Therefore, the possibility of direct intervention by Brazil is restricted.

The ministry did not detail whether there are any measures underway to locate Hendrick's body or facilitate its transfer to Brazil.

Family tries to bring body to Pará

According to family members, Hendrick was participating in a mission in a high-risk area when he died in combat, on October 30th.

Relatives reported that clashes in the region made searching for the body difficult. Until the last update of the information provided by the family, there was no confirmation on the exact location, the release of the body or a timetable for its transfer to Pará.

The family is seeking information about the circumstances of the death and is trying to facilitate the young man's return to the state.

Itamaraty records 36 Brazilians killed in the war

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported that, to date, there are records of 36 Brazilians killed and 117 missing in action in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine.

Of the total deaths, 34 occurred among Brazilians who fought on the Ukrainian side and two among those who fought on the Russian side. Among those missing, 107 were linked to Ukrainian forces and ten to Russian forces.

The numbers, according to Itamaraty, are based on official communications sent by the governments of the two countries to Brazil.

The ministry expressed concern about the increased participation of Brazilians in the war and the difficulties faced by families in obtaining information and resolving legal issues related to deaths and disappearances.

The Brazilian government also reported that it maintains consular alerts about the risks of participating in armed conflicts abroad. In September 2026, it updated guidance that recommends Brazilians refuse job offers and enlistment in foreign armies.