The body of Lithuanian volunteer Tomas Valentėlis, who was killed in Ukraine on March 13, has been recovered from the battlefield, another Lithuanian serviceman, Jara, told LRT.lt on Tuesday.
“It all happened overnight,” he said. “Tomas’s documents and personal belongings were not found – it’s possible he had already been searched by the enemy.”
In a video sent to LRT.lt, which showed a body bag lying on the floor, Jara added: “Lithuanians don’t leave their own behind. The soldier is returning home.”
The information was also confirmed by Valentėlis’ father, Dainius Valentėlis. He said a ceremony would take place in Kyiv, after which the ashes would be brought back to Lithuania.
Tomas Valentėlis, aged 20, from Biržai, had previously lived in the United Kingdom before joining the Ukrainian International Legion in 2024.
He was killed while carrying out a combat operation in the Kupiansk district in north-eastern Ukraine. He had been in the country for less than six months, and it was his first frontline mission.
The successful recovery of the body was also reported by Blue/Yellow, a Lithuanian non-governmental organisation supporting Ukraine.
“We express our sincere gratitude to Ukraine’s special forces and their commander, Oleksandr Trepak. Despite the difficult conditions and artillery fire, the operation was carried out with the highest level of professionalism and without any casualties,” said Blue/Yellow co-founder Jonas Ohman in a statement posted on social media.
“The operation was rather complex, the body was located in an area close to Russian positions,” Ohman later told LRT TV on Wednesday. “There was some fighting during the extraction, artillery was involved.”
“[Valentėlis] acted honourably, he assaulted, the Russians were retreating. Perhaps due to a lack of experience, he advanced too far, the Russians pushed back and the man was simply killed,” he added.
The International Legion previously made an unsuccessful attempt to retrieve the body, leaving three servicemen injured.
Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda also expressed his condolences following Valentėlis’ death.
“Ukrainians are fighting and dying for freedom. Ukraine’s freedom is Europe’s freedom – it is also Lithuania’s freedom. Rest in peace, brave volunteer who went to fight for Ukraine and Lithuania,” the president said in a statement.
Speaking to reporters in the parliament, Lithuanian Defence Minister Dovilė Šakalienė said that Valentėlis would be honoured.
“I can’t yet provide details, but indeed – it will be something similar to the situation involving the fallen volunteer Tadas Tumas. We will likely consider something along those lines, because he is a citizen of Lithuania and as such we certainly want to and must take care of him,” the minister said.
According to the minister, the views of Valentėlis’ family were also being taken into account.
Her sentiments were echoed by the chair of the parliamentary Security and Defence Committee, Giedrimas Jeglinskas.
“Our deepest condolences to the family and truly, to this hero who died fighting – also for our freedom. We will see, we will gather more information, we will consider what actions can be taken, how to honour him, and what must be done,” he said.
Valentėlis had previously been officially listed as missing in action. He was among more than 60,000 people considered missing in Ukraine – the majority of whom are presumed dead. According to LRT, another Lithuanian volunteer is also missing.
Until now, the only confirmed Lithuanian killed in combat in Ukraine was Tadas Tumas, call sign Milžinas, who died on February 23, 2023. Another Lithuanian volunteer, Valerijus Polkovnikovas, died in a hospital in Kyiv, though the cause of death has not been disclosed.
Correction: The number of missing people in Ukraine has been updated from 30,000 to 60,000 to reflect the February 2025 figures provided by the Ukrainian authorities.
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