TOKYO: A Japanese volunteer fighter in his 20s has died in a battle in eastern Ukraine against the Russian military, it was learned Friday.

A fellow soldier died during the battle, a source linked to the Ukrainian military told Jiji Press, referring to the name of the fighter.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno told a news conference Friday that a Japanese man in his 20s who participated in a battle in Ukraine died Wednesday local time.

He is seen as the first Japanese fatality in the Russia-Ukraine war.

The man belonged to a unit engaged in a counteroffensive operation on the eastern front in Ukraine and died when the unit was attacked, according to the source.

The Ukrainian military has contacted his family and started work to send his body to Japan.

According to Matsuno, information of the man’s death was confirmed Thursday local time, and the Japanese Embassy in Kyiv is contacting his family and providing support.

Since Russia began its military aggression against Ukraine in February, foreign volunteers from 58 countries have participated in the fight against Russia, informed sources said.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has called for people around the world to join an international volunteer army for his country.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba has said that some 20,000 people had applied for the army as of early March.

The death of a Japanese volunteer fighter in Ukraine had been rumored on social media.

Tokyo recommends Japanese nationals not to travel to Ukraine and those already there to leave the country.

Japanese nationals who serve as military volunteers may be accused of the crime of preparations or plots for private war under the Penal Code.

JIJI Press