Lithuania Bids Farewell to Volunteer Killed in Ukraine
A funeral was held in Vilnius on Sunday for Ignas Kailius, a 25-year-old Lithuanian volunteer who died fighting alongside Ukrainian forces against Russia's invasion. He is the third known Lithuanian citizen to have been killed in Ukraine since the full-scale war began.
Dozens of mourners, including senior politicians and military officers, gathered at a church in Vilnius, Lithuania's capital, on Sunday to pay their final respects to Ignas Kailius, a Lithuanian volunteer killed while fighting alongside Ukrainian forces against Russia's invasion.
Lithuania's defence chief, General Raimundas Vaikšnoras, told those assembled that Kailius understood the importance of Ukraine's fight against Russian aggression, noting that Ukraine is defending not only its own freedom but the independence of Europe as a whole.
Senior Lithuanian officials paid tribute to the volunteer. A wreath was laid on behalf of President Gitanas Nausėda, who issued a statement saying Kailius had chosen without hesitation to fight for Ukraine's freedom, fully aware of the responsibility involved. The president described the volunteer's sacrifice, courage and loyalty to his principles as a lasting example of civic duty and heroism.
Prime Minister Mindaugas Sinkevičius said the country had lost "a brave, freedom-loving young man" who had chosen to fight "where freedom is defended at the greatest risk and the highest price".
Kailius, 25, joined the Ukrainian armed forces in February 2024, serving as an assistant grenade-launcher operator in an infantry unit. He went missing after setting out on a combat mission on June 2, and his death was later confirmed. The area where he was stationed had come under fire from Russian forces shortly before contact with him was lost.
He served in a unit made up largely of foreign volunteers from Brazil and Colombia. A fellow soldier, André Aguiar, described him as an outstanding and dependable soldier who was well liked by his comrades. Aguiar added that Kailius volunteered to help stop Russian aggression from spreading beyond Ukraine to other countries, including his native Lithuania.
Two other Lithuanians, Tadas Tumas and Tomas Valentėlis, have previously been killed fighting on the Ukrainian front.
The funeral highlighted Lithuania's continued solidarity with Ukraine and the sacrifices made by individuals in the fight against Russian aggression.
