“His Heart Was With Ukraine”: Hungarian Volunteer Dies in Combat

A 21-year-old Hungarian citizen, Benjamin Asher, has been confirmed killed while serving as a volunteer in Ukraine’s Defense Forces, according to Telex and other regional media outlets.

Asher died in combat on May 24, reportedly while serving with Ukraine’s 3rd Assault Brigade. His death occurred shortly after his 21st birthday.

Born in 2004, Asher was a contract soldier in the Hungarian Armed Forces. In March 2023, he failed to report for duty, prompting Hungarian authorities to open a criminal case. According to Telex, he informed his commanding officer that he was leaving to join the fighting in Ukraine.

Asher was not of Hungarian-Ukrainian descent and had no connection to Ukraine’s Transcarpathian region. His father, who currently resides in Canada, told journalists that Benjamin had lived in Canada between 2019 and 2021 before returning to Hungary.

He confirmed his son’s military background and said that Benjamin had not shared his decision to go to Ukraine in advance.

Hungarian diplomatic officials are currently working to repatriate his remains. However, Asher’s father has expressed a desire to bury his son either in Kyiv or Toronto, citing both logistical and personal reasons.

According to him, Benjamin had no intention of returning to Hungary, and his decision to join Ukraine’s military effort reflected a clear stance in support of the Ukrainian people.

In March 2025, reports indicated a renewed rise in the number of foreign volunteers joining Ukraine’s Defense Forces. The increase followed public statements from the Trump administration, with many citing both political disillusionment and a desire to support Ukraine as motivations for joining the fight.

Earlier, Ukrainian Special Operations Forces conducted a high-risk mission to recover the body of 20-year-old Lithuanian volunteer Tomas Valentelis, who was killed near Kupiansk in March.

The operation, codenamed “Messenger,” followed a failed evacuation attempt that left four soldiers wounded. Valentelis had joined the International Legion after arriving from London and was killed during his first combat mission. A farewell ceremony was held in Kyiv, and his body was later returned to Lithuania.