Latest news with #ShanLeKearns
RNZ News
7 days ago
- General
- RNZ News
Father of Kiwi killed in Ukraine says government offered 'virtually nothing' in support
Andrew Bagshaw. Photo: Supplied / Susan and Philip Bagshaw The father of a New Zealand aid worker killed in Ukraine says his family received no support from our government. Professor Phil Bagshaw, father of Andrew Bagshaw, hopes the family of Shan-Le Kearns receive more support than they did. "We got some support from the UK government. We got virtually nothing from the New Zealand government," Phil Bagshaw told Midday Report. "Both my wife and I hope the New Zealand government is more supportive of this young man's family then they were of us." New Zealand aid worker Andrew Bagshaw, 47, was killed in eastern Ukraine in January 2023, alongside fellow British volunteer Christopher Parry. The pair were killed while trying to rescue a civilian from the Soledar region. On Thursday, reports emerged that 26-year-old Shan-Le Kearns was killed in Ukraine. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade said it had not yet received any confirmation from Ukraine authorities and was urgently seeking information. It said the process may take some time given the situation on the ground in Ukraine. When contacted about Prof Bagshaw's claims, a Mfat spokesperson said: "The New Zealand Government condemned the killings of Andrew Bagshaw and his British colleague Chris Parry in Ukraine in January 2023. For privacy reasons, no other information about the assistance provided can be provided." Kearns would be the fourth New Zealander known to have died in Ukraine. Dominic Abelen, 28, was killed on 23 August 2022; Bagshaw, 47, on 6 January 2023; and Kane Te Tai, 38, on 20 March 2023. Shan-le Kearns. Photo: Supplied Prof Phil Bagshaw, who founded the Canterbury Charity Hospital, said at the time of his son's death, his family received lots of "confusing" and "very distressing" information. "We hoped we'd get some good information from the New Zealand government but what we got was incorrect and unhelpful, I'm afraid," he said. "We were told Andrew was killed accidentally by an artillery shell, when in fact, that clearly was not true. In fact, we got more information from his friends in Ukraine who did know what had happened to him." Post-mortem reports found Parry and Andrew Bagshaw were both killed by gunshot wounds to the head and other parts of the body , rather than the initial official explanation of their death, which was that their vehicle was hit by artillery fire. He urges Kearns' family to reach out to the team of people Kearns worked with, as they will be a reliable source of information. Prof Phil Bagshaw expressed his deep sympathies to Kearns' family. "You have good days and you have not good days. This is something that you live with." Andrew Bagshaw in Ukraine. Photo: Supplied/Grzegorz Rybak Prof Phil Bagshaw, alongside his wife Dame Sue Bagshaw, have always maintained their son was the victim of a war crime and they want it to be investigated by the International Criminal Court at the Hague. "I can tell you we will not rest until our son's death is listed as a war crime which is held against [Russian President Vladimir] Putin in the International Criminal Court," he said. "We've forgiven those who killed him but we do not forgive Putin. We want him to stand trial, even in absentia, for the death of our son." "This war is a crime against humanity and the New Zealand government should be speaking out actively against it."
RNZ News
7 days ago
- General
- RNZ News
Father of man killed in Ukraine calls for govt to speak out
conflict world 26 minutes ago The father of a man who died in Ukraine said his heart goes out to the familiy of a Christchurch man who also died there. It is understood Shan-Le Kearns was killed after several years fighting in Ukraine. Professor Phil Bagshaw, whose son Andrew was killed in 2023, spoke to Tuwhenuaroa Natanahira.
RNZ News
29-05-2025
- General
- RNZ News
New Zealander killed in Ukraine died trying to save fellow soldiers, RNZ understands
Shan-le Kearns, 26, is the fourth New Zealander known to have died in Ukraine. Photo: Supplied A Christchurch man who died in Ukraine while helping the country's war efforts had earlier said he was living the dream. Twenty-six-year-old Shan-Le Kearns, from Christchurch, died in the past few weeks. He had posted on social media a slogan that translated to 'Glory to Ukraine! Glory to the heroes'. A source in Ukraine told RNZ he had been trying to rescue wounded comrades when his group was hit by drones and explosives. Kearns died attempting to save fellow soldiers, and a Finnish soldier was killed alongside him, the source said. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade said it had not yet received any confirmation from Ukraine authorities and was urgently seeking information. However, it said the process may take some time given the situation on the ground in Ukraine. It said no further information could be shared, citing privacy reasons. Elis Kearns told 1News that her son was not on the front line but had been trained in combat so he could help rescue injured soldiers. He had been in Ukraine for two years and was intending to stay for another to fulfil his three-year contract, she said. Kearns is the fourth New Zealander known to have died in Ukraine. Dominic Abelen, 28, was killed on 23 August 2022; Andrew Bagshaw, 47, on 6 January 2023; and Kane Te Tai, 38, on 20 March 2023.
